As in past years, there is a large contingent of athletes from Euskal Herria at the 2024 Olympic Games that just started in Paris – 43 in total. The vast majority, 33, are from the Basque Autonomous Community, while another 8 are from Nafarroa and 2 more come from Iparralde. This is the second most in Olympic history, surpassed only by the 44 that participated in the 1992 games held in Barcelona. More than half of the 43 athletes, 22 to be precise, are women. In all, Basques will participate in 16 different sports.

• The most medals the Basque contingent has won in previous games is 3. With such a large showing in Paris, there is a real chance to beat that mark. A few of the athletes that are favored to win a medal in 2024 include:
  • John Cabang, born in and competing for the Philippines, grew up in Donostia with his adoptive parents. He is a hurdler competing in his first Olympics. He studies robotics in the Basque Country.
  • Maialen Chourraut is a slalom canoeist from Lasarte-Oria in Gipuzkoa. She won bronze in 2012 in London, gold in 2016 in Brazil, and silver in 2020 in Tokyo, for more Olympic medals than any other Basque athlete. She was chosen as one of the flag bearers for Spain in Paris.
  • Alberto Munarriz is part of the Spanish water polo team, which is the current European champion and has won bronze at the last two world championships.
  • Jon Rahm. Born in Barrika, Rahm is a familiar name to American audience. For a time, he was the number one ranked golfer in the world. He is currently ranked number 10 in the world.
• And, one can’t forget neither the men’s nor women’s national soccer teams. The women are the current world champion while the men won silver in Tokyo. Basques on these two teams include women Irene Paredes, Oihane Hernández, Elene Lete (reserve), and men Beñat Turrientes, Aimar Oroz and Jon Pacheco.
• There are also a few very young faces. The skaterboarders Naia Laso and Alain Kortabitarte are only 15 and 18 years old, respectively; boxer Oier Ibarretxe, just turned 21; Ariane Toro, competing in judo, is also 21. And surfer Janire González-Etxabarri is just 19 years old.
• Here is a complete list, alphabetical by last name – if you see any of them, you can give them an extra cheer.
  • Gracia Alonso (3×3 basketball)
  • Alex Aranburu (road cycling)
  • José ‘Chefo’ Basterra (field hockey)
  • Esther Briz (rowing)
  • Dario Brizuela (basketball)
  • John Cabang (track and field-hurdles)
  • Maialen Chourraut (whitewater canoeing)
  • Carlota Ciganda (golf)
  • Andy Criere (surfing)
  • Virginia Diaz (rowing)
  • Joan Duru (surfing)
  • Tessy Ebosele (track and field-long jump)
  • Pau Echaniz (whitewater canoeing)
  • Nadia Erostarbe (surfing)
  • Maitane Etxeberria (handball)
  • Lucía García (soccer)
  • Imanol Garciandia (handball)
  • Janire Gonzalez-Etxabarri (surfing)
  • Oihane Hernández (soccer)
  • Sergey Hernandez (reserve) (handball)
  • Oier Ibarretxe (boxing)
  • Alain Kortabitarte (skateboarding)
  • Naia Laso (skateboarding)
  • Begoña Lazcano (flatwater canoeing)
  • Miren Lazkano (slalom canoeing)
  • Oier Lazkano (road cycling)
  • Elene Lete (reserve) (soccer)
  • Hortense Limouzin (3×3 basketball)
  • Xabier Lopez de Arostegi (basketball)
  • Majida Maayouf (track and field-marathon)
  • Asier Martinez (track and field-hurdles)
  • Alberto Munarriz (water polo)
  • Kauldi Odriozola (handball)
  • Aimar Oroz (soccer)
  • Jon Pacheco (soccer)
  • Irene Paredes (soccer)
  • Jon Rahm (golf)
  • Bibiane Schulze (soccer)
  • Salma Solaun (gymnastics)
  • Lysa Tchaptchet (handball)
  • Ariane Toro (judo)
  • Beñat Turrientes (soccer)
  • Rafa Vilallonga (field hockey)

A full list of all of Buber’s Basque Facts of the Week can be found in the Archive.

Primary sources: Comienzan los Juegos de París 2024 con 43 deportistas vascos y vascas, EITB.eus; 43 vascos en los Juegos Olímpicos de París, Deia.com