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(L to R) Lyles, Butts-Townsend and Isley
Three Alexandrians will be competing for gold in the upcoming Olympic Summer Games.
The event, which runs from July 23 – Aug. 8 will be held in Tokyo. The games were originally scheduled for last summer, but were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
There is a 16-hour time difference between Tokyo and Alexandria. You can watch the Olympics on NBC and NBC Universal platforms (Peacock, NBCOlympics.com and NBCSports.com).
T.C. Williams High School (now Alexandria City High School) graduate Noah Lyles (left, above) will be competing in track and field for the upcoming Olympic games. He is the son of Keisha Caine and Kevin Lyles and has a brother, Josephus, who is also an elite sprinter. Lyles is currently the world champion in the 200 meters event and will be competing in the men’s 200 meters during the games. According to his Team USA bio, Lyles is a also a fan of “music, art, video games, comics, anime and fashion.” You can watch Lyles compete on the following dates and times (subject to change):
Aug. 2 beginning at 8 p.m. ET – men’s 200m round 1
Aug. 3 beginning at 6:10 a.m. ET – men’s 200m semifinals
Aug. 4 beginning at 5:30 a.m. ET – men’s 200m finals
Fellow T.C. Williams High School (now Alexandria City High School) graduate Tynita Butts-Townsend (center) will also be competing in track and field in the high jumping event. Butts-Townsend earned a degree in sociology from East Carolina University and is married to Paralympian Roderick Townsend-Roberts. Catch Butts-Townsend compete on the following dates and times (subject to change):
Aug. 4 beginning at 8 p.m. ET – women’s high jump qualifying
Aug. 7 beginning at 6:45 a.m. ET – women’s high jump final
Boxer Troy Isley (right) also graduated from T.C. Williams High School. He trains at the Alexandria Boxing Club and his favorite boxer is Sugar Ray Leonard according to his Team USA bio. Isley will compete in the middleweight category which you can watch on the following dates and times (subject to change):
July 25 starting at 11:36 p.m. ET and July 26 starting at 5:36 a.m. ET – round of 32
July 28 starting at 10 p.m. ET and July 29 starting at 4 a.m. ET – round of 16
July 31 starting at 11:18 p.m. ET and Aug. 1 starting at 5:18 a.m. ET – quarterfinal
Aug. 5 beginning at 2:03 a.m. ET – semifinal
Aug. 7 beginning at 1:45 a.m. ET - final
In addition, Torri Huske of Arlington will be in this year's Olympics — she trained last year at Dowden Terrace Pool in Alexandria. Huske will be competing in the 100-meter women's butterfly.
July 24 starting at 6:48 a.m. ET - heats 1 - 6
July 24 at 9:40 p.m. - semifinal
July 25 at 9:30 p.m. - final
A number of local businesses are offering Olympic-themed specials in honor of the games.
On Saturday, Aug. 7 from 5 to 8 p.m., Barkhaus (529 E. Howell Ave.), the DC region’s first dog-friendly bar, restaurant and dog park, is hosting “The Dog Games,” featuring dog competitions, food and drink specials and free dog medals. A portion of the event proceeds will support the Special Olympics.
Elizabeth’s Counter (804 N. Henry St.) is offering an Olympic donut, a vanilla glazed donut sprinkled with a blend of red, white, blue and gold and silver stars, available in-store starting July 23.
Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap (401 E. Braddock Road) is serving up an Olympic viewing prix fixe menu in the Beer Garden & Tap Room. View the games on one of five TVs. The menu will be offered Mondays through Thursdays from July 23 to August 8 and includes the following:
Bronze - Any 10" Pizza + Draft Beer or Glass of Lena's Wine (Rose, Cabernet or Pinot Grigio) for $25.
Silver - Your choice of White Bean Dip or Spinach & Artichoke Dip + Any 10" Pizza + Beer or Glass of Lena's Wine (Rose, Cabernet or Pinot Grigio) for $37.
Gold - Your choice of White Bean Dip or Spinach & Artichoke Dip + 10" Pizza + Beer/Glass of Lena's Wine (Rose, Cabernet or Pinot Grigio) + Any Dessert for $47.
