Competing at the Olympics can be an overwhelming experience for many. For 12 U.S. athletes, there is a sense of comfort in sharing the Olympic experience with a family member.
Team USA has six pairs of siblings competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics together. Let's take a closer look at these talented siblings.
Juliette and Bella Whittaker — Track and Field
Sisters Juliette and Bella Whittaker are both members of Team USA's track and field team. Juliette races the 800m and Bella is in the women's 400m relay pool.
The two often refer to themselves as the "Whittasisters." They shared a bedroom growing up and are now roommates in the Olympic village.
Juliette, at just 20 years old, finished in seventh place in the women's 800m final in her first Olympics.
Chase and Ryder Dodd — Water polo
Brothers Chase and Ryder Dodd are making their Olympic debut as members of the 13-player water polo team.
Chase, 21, will compete at UCLA alongside his younger brother in the fall. At 18 years old, Ryder is the youngest member of Team USA's water polo team.
The U.S. men's water polo team will face Australia in the semifinals on Wednesday.
Annie and Kerry Xu — Badminton
Not only are badminton players Annie and Kerry Xu sisters, but they are also twins.
The 24-year-old sisters made their Olympic debut in Paris where they participated in the doubles category.
The two have been playing badminton together since they were 8 years old. They took a break during college so they could focus on their academics. After college, the two picked up their rackets again and pursued the dream of reaching the Olympics.
![Annie and Kerry Xu](https://images.nbcolympics.com/sites/default/files/2024-08/1920_1080_Annie_Kerry_Xu.jpg?impolicy=rect_large_1920_1080)
Alex and Gretchen Walsh — Swimming
Sisters Alex and Gretchen Walsh are both superstars in the pool for Team USA.
The two competed at the University of Virginia together. Alex, 23, is two years older than Gretchen but the two have always shared a love for swimming.
The sisters were busy in Paris. Alex competed in the 200m individual medley. Gretchen was a member of the women's 4x100m medley relay team that set a world record en route to winning gold. She also won gold in the mixed 4x100 medley relay and silver as a member of the women's 4x100m freestyle relay. Gretchen competed in the 50m freestyle, women's 100m freestyle and women's 100m butterfly
When Alex was disqualified from the 200m IM due to an illegal turn at the end of her backstroke leg, Gretchen said that she swam the butterfly in the mixed 4x100m medley relay in her sister's honor.
Aaron and Alex Shackell — Swimming
There is another sibling pairing on the U.S. swimming team in brother and sister Aaron and Alex Shackell.
Older brother Aaron finished eighth in the men's 400m freestyle in Paris. Alex, who is just 17 years old, finished in sixth place in the women's 200m butterfly.
Aaron and Alex's father, Nicholas, represented Great Britain at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.
Brooke and Emma DeBerdine — Field Hockey
Sisters Brooke and Emma DeBerdine compete together on the U.S. field hockey team.
Both sisters made their Olympic debut in Paris. They attended the University of Maryland together and now play on the U.S. women's national team.
While in Paris, the U.S. did not advance out of pool play but ended on a high note with a 1-0 victory over South Africa.
There are many other siblings competing for other countries in the Olympics, including the following:
- Tom and Emily Ford (Great Britain) – Rowing
- Madison and Michaela Corcoran (Ireland) – Canoe slalom
- Aidan Walsh and Michaela Walsh (Ireland) – Boxing
- Maddison and Teagan Levi (Australia) – Rugby sevens
- Lina and Laviai Nielsen (Great Britain) – Track and Field
- Yulduz and Fariba Hashimi (Afghanistan) – Cycling
- Sole and Sanaa Frederick (Trinidad) – Track and Field
- Katherine and Michelle Plouffe (Canada) – Basketball
- Krzysztof and Michal Chmielewski (Poland) – Swimming