Providing financial support to CGA alumni who possess both talent and opportunity to pursue athletic competition at the professional, Olympic, or elite level.

On average, less than 2% of collegiate athletes have the opportunity to compete at the next level. That opportunity is even rarer among Service Academies and D3 institutions like the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. So when such an opportunity emerges, it is in the best interest of the Academy and its community to celebrate and support that individual however reasonably possible.

The Elite Athlete Excellence Fund was established to financially support CGA alumni who possess both talent and opportunity to pursue athletic competition at the professional, Olympic, or elite level. At the donor’s request, gifts to the Elite Athlete Excellence Fund may be designated to support a specific initiative or by visiting one of the crowdfunding pages below.

Our Athletes

John Olbrys '11 - Coastal Rowing

John Olbrys ’11 served ten years in the USCG and recently qualified to represent the United States as a member of the inaugural Beach Sprints National Team, which took Bronze at the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals in Oeiras, Portual in late September 2021. With sights set on competing in the Olympic Games, Olbrys is the fifth benefactor to be supported through the Alumni Association’s Elite Athlete Excellence Fund.

Learn More and Make a Gift

Past Fund Recipients

Nikki Barnes '17 - Sailing

Olympian Nikole Barnes had one of the most remarkable careers ever as a cadet-athlete and is considered one of the best women’s sailors in college sailing. She led the women’s sailing team to the national championship in 2016, was named the National Women’s Sailor of the Year during her 2/c year (2x finalist) and was named to the Women’s All-American team four times. Barnes was the first officer in USCG to receive a support allowance billet to train for and compete in the Olympic Games while on active duty. At the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan Barnes and her teammate Lara Dallman-Weiss finished 12th in the Women’s 470.

Brian Kim '19 - Pistol

Recognized as one of the hardest working members of the team, Brian Kim is a six-time collegiate national champion and 2018 U.S. National Team member. Following graduation with the Class of 2019, Kim delayed flight school and was assigned to the Academy to enable him to train for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in 10m air pistol and 25m rapid fire pistol events. At the conclusion of the multistage Olympic team selection process, Kim finished fifteenth.

Helen Oh '19 - Pistol

One of the most dominant collegiate shooters, Helen Oh is the most decorated pistol athlete in Academy history. Following graduation, she was assigned to the Academy and permitted to continue training to qualify for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in the 10m air pistol and 25m women’s sport pistol. The multievent selection process had Oh compete throughout the United States, Brazil, and Europe. In the final standings she accumulated 2278 points to place third, missing the U.S. Olympic team by just 20 points.

Joe Rodriguez '20 - Swimming

Joe Rodriguez ’20 is a 5-time first-team All-American and 4-time honorable mention, and Coast Guard Academy record-holder in the 50 freestyle events. In December 2019 he became the first Coast Guard Academy swimmer to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials. Rodriguez competed in the 50 meter freestyle event at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June in Omaha, Nebraska. As a cadet-athlete, Rodriguez placed third in the 50 yard freestyle at the 2019 NCAA Division III Championship and broke the school record with a time of 19.88 seconds.