Following in the footsteps of mountaineer, adventurer, and Olympic rifleman William Libbey 1877, there are Princetonians who have competed on the world stage outside of the sports represented by Princeton’s 38 varsity teams. Here are some of the elite competitors who excelled in other athletic events.
Find PAW’s list of the 25 greatest Princeton athletes here.
John Allis ’65
cycling
A three-time Olympian (1964, 1968, 1972), Allis competed in the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo as an undergraduate. He was inducted into the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame in 1993. At Princeton, he helped launch the cycling club.
Karen Smyers ’83
triathlon
Smyers is the 1995 Ironman world champion and a hall of fame triathlete who also won silver medals at the 1994 and 1999 Ironman World Championships. She was a swimmer during her time at Princeton.
Joey Cheek ’11
speed skating
A three-time Olympic medalist in speed skating (bronze in 2002, gold and silver in 2006), Cheek retired from the sport before enrolling at Princeton. He was elected to carry the U.S. flag at the 2006 Winter Olympics closing ceremonies and donated his bonus for winning gold to a humanitarian organization.
Ariel Hsing ’17
table tennis
A table tennis prodigy, Hsing became the youngest-ever U.S. national champion in 2010, at age 15, repeating her wins in 2011 and 2013. At the 2012 Olympics, Hsing was defeated by the eventual gold medalist.
Erica Wu ’18
table tennis
Wu was the women’s doubles U.S. national champion in 2011 and 2012 and won bronze on the U.S. team at the 2011 Pan American Games. Wu competed at the 2012 Olympics with fellow Princetonian Ariel Hsing ’17.
Declan Farmer ’20
sled hockey
Born without legs, Farmer is a three-time Paralympic gold medalist hockey player for Team USA (2014, 2018, and 2022). He has also medaled seven times at the World Championships, earning four golds (2015, 2019, 2021, and 2023) and three silvers (2013, 2017, and 2024). At Princeton, he was able to secure ice time at Hobey Baker Rink to train for the 2018 Paralympic Games while enrolled in classes.
Chloe Kim ’23
snowboarding
Widely considered to be the one of the greatest female snowboarders in history, Kim was admitted to Princeton and attended for a year before leaving to train for the 2022 Olympics. Kim hasn’t graduated from Princeton, but we’d be remiss not to include the two-time reigning halfpipe gold medalist. She was the youngest woman ever to win gold in the event, at age 17.
Brad Snyder GS
swimming and triathlon
A Navy veteran, Snyder lost his eyesight in an IED attack in Afghanistan. He began swimming as part of his rehabilitation process and earned a spot on the U.S. Paralympic Team. He competed in the 2012 and 2016 Paralympic Games as a swimmer and in 2021 as a triathlete, winning a total of six gold medals and two silvers, and breaking a world record.
The 25 Greatest Athletes in Princeton History
#1: Bill Bradley ’65
men’s basketball
A lethal scorer who still holds Princeton records for most points in a career, season, and game, Bradley led the Tigers to three Ivy League titles and an appearance in the 1965 Final Four. The AP named him Player of the Year. As a professional, Bradley won two NBA championships with the New York Knicks. Both Princeton and the Knicks retired his number.
Bruce Roberts / Sports Illustrated / Getty Images
#2: Hobey Baker 1914
men’s ice hockey and football
Baker captained both the hockey and football teams at Princeton and was inducted into the hall of fame in both sports. On the gridiron, Baker, a punt returner and kicker, held the Princeton scoring record for 50 years. On the ice, he was known for his dazzling style of play as well as his sportsmanship, being penalized only once in his career.
Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library
#3: Ashleigh Johnson ’17
women’s water polo
A three-time Olympian, Johnson won gold medals as goalie on the U.S. women’s water polo teams at the 2016 and 2021 Olympics. She has also won two gold medals in both the world championships and Pan American Games. At Princeton, Johnson became the first Princeton women’s water polo player to be named first-team All-American and graduated as the career leader in saves.
#4: Dick Kazmaier ’52
football
In 1951, Kazmaier became the only Princetonian and last Ivy Leaguer to win the Heisman Trophy. A two-time All-American at tailback in the single wing offense, Kazmaier led the nation in total offense his senior year and was also named the AP male athlete of the year. The University retired Kazmaier’s (and Bradley’s) number 42 for all sports in 2008.
Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library
#5: Caroline Lind ’06
women’s crew
In 2006, Lind anchored a women’s eight that won a national championship for Princeton, winning all its races by more than 6.4 seconds. She won gold medals in the women’s eight at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, as well as six world championships. Lind and her 2008 Olympic boatmates were inducted into the National Rowing Hall of Fame.
#6: Carol Brown ’75
women’s crew and women’s swimming
Brown (left) starred on Princeton’s women’s rowing team for three years, and she also swam and was part of a national record relay team in the 200-yard freestyle relay. A member of three Olympic rowing teams, Brown won a bronze medal in 1976. She was later inducted into the National Rowing Hall of Fame.
#7: Cathy Corcione ’74
women’s swimming
Corcione, who swam in the 1968 Olympics when she was only 15, helped found the Princeton women’s swimming program. As a junior, she set national records in the 100-yard butterfly and 100-yard freestyle, and the following year won national championships in the 100- and 200-yard individual medleys.
#8: Yasser El Halaby ’06
men’s squash
El Halaby (right) won the College Squash Association individual championship all four years, while leading Princeton to two Ivy League titles and two appearances in the CSA team finals. He would often draw standing-room crowds to his matches. Turning professional after graduation, El Halaby has been ranked as high as No. 40 in the world.
#9: Diana Matheson ’08
women’s soccer
An Olympic bronze medalist for Canada in 2012 and 2016, Matheson was named Ivy League rookie of the year and player of the year at Princeton. When she graduated, Matheson was Princeton’s career leader in assists — and now shares second place. She’s still the leader for most assists in a game (with four vs. Rutgers).
#10: Chris Ahrens ’98
men’s crew
Ahrens (pictured far left) represented the U.S. in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics, winning a gold medal in the latter. He claimed world championship gold medals in 1995, ’97, ’98, and ’99. And at Princeton, Ahrens was on the men’s heavyweight eight teams that won the IRA championship in 1996 and ’98.
#11: Chris Young ’02
men’s basketball and baseball
Young was named the Ivy League rookie of the year in both sports he played. He set two freshman records in basketball and doubled as the best pitcher in the Ivy League, leading the Tigers to an Ivy title in 2000. He was drafted before graduating and completed his senior thesis while playing in the minors. He won a World Series in 2015 as a starting pitcher for the Kansas City Royals.
#12: Rachael Becker DeCecco ’03
women’s lacrosse
Becker DeCecco (pictured at center, #25) was a three-time All-American and played on two NCAA championship teams. Her senior year, she won the Tewaaraton Award, college lacrosse’s top honor, and was the Ivy League player of the year. She still holds the Princeton record for career caused turnovers (171).
#13: Kat Sharkey ’13
field hockey
Sharkey was the Ivy League offensive player of the year her senior year, and also earned All-Ivy and all-NCAA Tournament honors. She holds the record for career points at Princeton (245), as well as goals (107), points in a game (six goals), and points in a season (38 goals, nine assists).
#14: Tom Schreiber ’14
men’s lacrosse
Schreiber, Princeton’s career points leader for midfielders, is a two-time winner of the MacLaughlin Award — given to the top midfielder in the NCAA — in his junior and senior years. He was a first-team All-American three times. As a professional, he has been named MVP of Major League Lacrosse three times, in 2016, ’17, and ’23.
#15: Dennis Norman ’01
football and men’s track and field
Norman was named first-team All-Ivy three times before being selected in the seventh round of the 2001 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks. He played in the NFL for six seasons. As a track and field athlete, he won two Heps titles and holds Princeton’s fifth longest throw in the discus.
#16: Donn Cabral ’12
men’s cross country and track and field
Cabral was an All-American in steeplechase three times, twice in the outdoor 5,000 meters, once in the indoor 5,000 meters, and twice in cross country. He won the NCAA steeplechase championship in 2012. Cabral competed in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics for the United States and finished eighth both times.
#17: Demer Holleran ’89
women’s squash and women’s lacrosse
Holleran’s senior year was one for the ages: She won her third individual national title in squash (she’d also won in 1986 and ’87) and led the undefeated Tigers to national and Ivy team titles. She also starred as a goalkeeper in lacrosse, helping Princeton reach its first Final Four.
#18: Bella Alarie ’20
women’s basketball
Alarie, a high-scoring forward and towering defender, finished her career with 1,703 points and 249 blocks — both program records. She won three Ivy titles, but her chance to play in a third NCAA Tournament was dashed by the COVID pandemic. The Dallas Wings selected Alarie fifth overall in the 2020 WNBA Draft.
#19: Jesse Hubbard ’98
men’s lacrosse
A sharp-shooting attacker on Princeton’s three-peat national champions (1996, ’97, and ’98), Hubbard scored 163 goals, then the school record. He credited his prowess around the cage to countless hours practicing with teammates in “the pit” behind Dillon Gym. Hubbard also starred in the pros and won a world championship with the U.S.
#20: Sondre Guttormsen ’23
men’s track and field
Guttormsen set a new standard for Princeton pole vaulters, winning three NCAA championships (indoors in 2022 and ’23, outdoors in ’22) and a gold medal at the European indoor championships during his senior year. He’s represented his native Norway in the Olympics twice, including 2024 in Paris, where he placed eighth.
#21: Brian Taylor ’84
men’s basketball
Taylor averaged 24.3 points per game — second only to Bill Bradley ’65 — in two brilliant seasons at Princeton before leaving college early in 1972 to earn a living in the ABA (and later NBA). In 10 years as a pro, he was ABA rookie of the year and a two-time all-star and league champion. He returned to Princeton in 1983 to complete his degree.
#22: Anne Marden ’81
women’s crew
After rowing for four years on Princeton’s varsity eight, Marden switched to sculling and won two Olympic silver medals for the U.S. (quadruple sculls in 1984, single sculls in 1988). She also competed in the 1992 Olympics and, if not for the 1980 U.S. boycott, would have been Princeton’s first four-time Olympian.
#23: Jed Graef ’64
men’s swimming and diving
The 6-foot-6 backstroke specialist’s enrollment was “the greatest thing that ever happened to Princeton swimming,” coach Bob Clotworthy told PAW in 1965, and that still may hold true: Graef won gold in 200-meter backstroke at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, months after capturing an NCAA title. He also held the world record in his event.
#24: Lynn Jennings ’83
women’s cross country and track and field
“The queen of hill and dale,” as Sports Illustrated once dubbed her, Jennings dominated on the cross country course, winning world championships in 1990, ’91, and ’92. She also starred on the track, running in the Olympics three times and capturing a bronze medal in 1992 (10,000 meters). At Princeton, she was the women’s cross country team’s first Ivy champ.
#25: Cosmo Iacavazzi ’65
football
Crashing through the line with an uncommon combination of power and speed, Iacavazzi supplanted fellow legends in the record books, passing Hobey Baker 1914’s career scoring record, which had stood for more than 50 years, and Dick Kazmaier ’52’s single season best for total yards. He captained the Tigers to an undefeated season in 1964.
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