Tar Heels are taking over the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Seventeen former Tar Heels are competing in various sports in the Olympic Games in the next two weeks.

Additionally, more than two dozen UNC students and recent graduates are currently in Rio professionally covering the games.

Brendan Marks, a rising senior at UNC who is a broadcast and political science double major, says that seeing the games come together is an incredible experience.

“What we’re doing is we’re flash quote reporters. So as soon as the athletes finish competing we go on the floor and we talk to them”, Marks says.

Listen to WCHL’s conversation with Marks from Rio:

 

The media that the students gather will be available to all media outlets to use and will cover more than 11,000 athletes competing.

Sydney Holman, a rising senior who is a broadcast student at UNC and part of the Carolina women’s lacrosse team that won a national championship this season, says sharing this experience with fellow Tar Heels all the way in Brazil is comforting and very special.

“I get to cover field hockey, which five Carolina Tar Heels are on the USA women’s team, said Holman. “I actually know three of the girls on the team, so to be able to experience that, you know, we’ll be Tar Heels for life.”

Listen to WCHL’s conversation with Holman from Rio:

 

The students have spent the past few days in Rio training and say they feel prepared to take on the 2016 Olympic Games.

The Olympic opening ceremony kicks off Friday night and the games will run until August 21.

Listen to WCHL’s conversation with recent UNC graduate Haley Rhyne from Rio:

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