Western Illinois University Athletics Celebrates Olympic Connections | Quad Cities (2024)

July 29th, 2024

With the 2024 Summer Olympic Games officially kicking off, Leatherneck Athletics is proud to celebrate a rich history of connections to the Olympic Games. Leatherneck student-athletes and coaches have left a significant mark on the global sports stage throughout the years, from track and field to basketball to excellence in athletic training, WIU Athletics has a strong legacy of Olympic affiliations.

Bert Ohlander

Born in Helsinki, Bert Ohlander moved to the United States prior to Germany’s invasion of Finland at the start of World War II. Ohlander enrolled at WIU in the fall of 1956 and was a four-year letterwinner in both cross country and track & field for Hall of Fame coach Dick Abbot. During his time at WIU, Bert Ohlander showcased his athletic prowess by becoming an IIAC runner-up in 1957 and winning three conference championships in the 800 meters (1958-60).

Ohlander became WIU’s first Olympian, as he competed in the 800 meters for Finland at the 1960 Rome Olympics. He also secured a spot on Finland’s 4×400 Olympic relay team and represented his nation on the Finnish national team for four years. He was inducted into the WIU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014.

Lee Calhoun

Lee Calhoun, a revered figure in track and field, served as the Leathernecks’ track and field coach from 1980 until his passing in 1989. A two-time Olympic gold medalist in the high hurdles, Calhoun claimed titles in 1956 in Melbourne and 1960 in Rome. His contributions to WIU and the sport earned him a posthumous induction into the Leatherneck Hall of Fame in 1989.

Zane (Teilane) Tamane

Former Western Illinois women’s basketball player Zane (Teilane) Tamane competed in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing for the Latvian Women’s National Basketball team. Teilane had a team-high 11 rebounds in a loss to South Korea and led Latvia in rebounds with six in games against Russia and Belarus. Teilane was inducted into the WIU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017.

Dick Abbot

As the head track and cross country coach from 1958-1968, Dick Abbot led WIU to remarkable success, including a stretch of 27 consecutive dual-meet wins. Abbot’s expertise extended beyond WIU, as he served on the U.S. Olympic Committee from 1964-68 and managed the U.S. Track and Field Team at the 1967 Pan American Games. His legacy was cemented with his induction into the WIU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1987.

Roland ‘Duke’ LaRue

Duke LaRue, who served as the physical therapist and head athletic trainer at WIU from 1965-78, made significant contributions to the athletic training field. He established the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) athletic training program at WIU and later at the University of Nebraska. LaRue served as the NATA athletic trainer at the 1972 games in Sapporo, Japan, and 1980 games in Lake Placid, New York. His dedication was honored with inductions into the NATA Hall of Fame in 1990 and the WIU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003.

Zurab Beridze

Zurab Beridze, a former WIU swimmer from the Republic of Georgia, holds the distinction of being the only Leatherneck swimmer to have qualified for the Olympics. Specializing in sprint freestyle events, Beridze represented his country at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in the men’s 50m freestyle. During his time at WIU, he recorded the second fastest 50-yard freestyle time in school history (20.89) under Hall of Fame head coach Jerry Champer.

Mary Vacala

Mary Vacala has made significant contributions as a medical coordinator and chief athletic trainer at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and served on the Team USA medical staff for multiple Paralympic Games, including Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020. Vacala’s dedication to athletic training and her role in supporting gold-medal-winning teams has been recognized, and she is set to be inducted into the WIU Athletics 2024 Hall of Fame class later this year as part of the 1978 Women’s Field Hockey Team.