MINNESOTA'S OLYMPIC HOPEFULS
Badminton
Former Minneapolis resident Paula Lynn Obanana and teammate Eva Lee are ranked 18th in the world in women's doubles after winning gold at last month's Pan Am Games. Obanana, who now trains in California, is a native of the Philippines who emigrated to Minnesota with her family in 2005. She has competed for the U.S. since gaining citizenship in 2011.
BASKETBALL
The Lynx's Maya Moore, Lindsay Whalen and Seimone Augustus were part of the United States team that won the 2014 FIBA world championship, which secured the Americans a place in the 12-team Olympic tournament. Their new Lynx teammate Sylvia Fowles and former teammate Monica Wright also are in the national team player pool. Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve will be an assistant to U.S. coach Geno Auriemma in Rio.
BOXING
Grand Rapids native Heidi Henriksen won silver medals in the light heavyweight class (178 pounds) at the past two USA Boxing elite national championships; she also competed at the 2014 world championships, losing in the quarterfinals. Because the Olympic tournament includes only three women's weight classes, Henriksen is trying to qualify for a spot at the Olympic trials in the middleweight (165 pounds) division.
CYCLING
2012 Olympian Alise Post of St. Cloud is ranked third in the world in women's BMX racing and won her fifth U.S. title this year. Kelly Catlin of Arden Hills is considered a rising star; she won the women's individual time trial in road cycling at the Pan Am Games last month and also helped the U.S. earn silver in women's team pursuit on the track.
DIVING
Laura Ryan of Elk River has won two national titles in 3-meter synchronized with Abby Johnston and made her world championships debut last month, when she finished ninth in synchronized and 25th in individual on the 3-meter board. Apple Valley resident Jessica Parratto, who won the 2015 NCAA title in platform diving as a redshirt freshman at Indiana, finished 21st at the world championships in individual platform and ninth in synchronized platform with Amy Cozad.
GYMNASTICS
A member of the U.S. senior national team since 2013, Maggie Nichols of Little Canada finished third in the all-around, uneven bars and floor exercise at the 2014 U.S. championships. She has recovered from a knee injury suffered last fall and performed brilliantly at last month's Secret U.S. Classic; in a meet that featured most of the top gymnasts in the country, she finished third in all-around and floor and fifth in uneven bars and balance beam.
RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICs
St. Francis native Kiana Eide, who now trains in Northbrook, Ill., was part of the U.S. team that won the country's first gold medal in group competition at the Pan Am Games last month.