Maya DiRado, Molly Hannis, Kim Conley, Dan Dennis headed to Rio Olympics

Swimmers Maya DiRado and Molly Hannis, runner Kim Conley and wrestler Dan Dennis all have strong Sonoma County connections.|
PHIL BARBER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Meet your local Olympians

Maya DiRado: The Maria Carrillo High grad is one of only three U.S. swimmers to qualify for three events at the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, putting her into an elite group. Win or lose, she plans to retire after the Olympics. Her story.

Molly Hannis: The Santa Rosa High grad overcame a considerable deficit in the 200-meter breaststroke to win a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. But don't count her out. Her coach says she has the tools to become the best in the world. Her story.

Kim Conley: The Montgomery High grad is going to the Olympics, where she will represent the United States in the 5,000-meter run. It wasn't the race she'd hoped to run. Her story.

Dan Dennis: A year ago, the former Windsor High wrestling coach was living in a fifth-wheel parked at a friend's construction yard outside Windsor. Now he is headed to Rio. His story.

Two of them spend their waking hours in a swimming pool, one on an oval track or running trail, and another on a wrestling mat. Three of them grew up in Santa Rosa, one was transplanted to Windsor. One of them has done this before, while the other three are about to experience the indescribable.

Maya DiRado, Molly Hannis, Kim Conley and Dan Dennis are bound by a single thread: Each will officially represent the United States, and unofficially carry the banner of Sonoma County, at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro over the next three weeks.

The Empire’s Olympic adventure begins Saturday when DiRado plunges into the pool for 400 individual medley preliminaries (the final happens later that day). It will wrap up on Aug. 19 when Dennis grapples his way through 57-kilogram matches.

Our local quartet may bask in glory. They may suffer crushing defeat. Either way, Sonoma County has never felt quite so close to Rio de Janeiro. See profiles of the athletes on Page A12.

Meet your local Olympians

Maya DiRado: The Maria Carrillo High grad is one of only three U.S. swimmers to qualify for three events at the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, putting her into an elite group. Win or lose, she plans to retire after the Olympics. Her story.

Molly Hannis: The Santa Rosa High grad overcame a considerable deficit in the 200-meter breaststroke to win a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. But don't count her out. Her coach says she has the tools to become the best in the world. Her story.

Kim Conley: The Montgomery High grad is going to the Olympics, where she will represent the United States in the 5,000-meter run. It wasn't the race she'd hoped to run. Her story.

Dan Dennis: A year ago, the former Windsor High wrestling coach was living in a fifth-wheel parked at a friend's construction yard outside Windsor. Now he is headed to Rio. His story.

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