In less than two weeks the Paris Olympic Games will begin. But rather than heading to the busy streets of Paris, Stanford alumnus Hans Henken will be going to the Marseille Marina, the site of the sailing events.

“Representing the United States at the Olympics this summer is an incredible honor and a lifelong dream come true,” said Henken. “The Olympics are the pinnacle of athletic achievement, on a stage where the best in the world come together to compete, and for me, it represents years of hard work, dedication, and sacrifices.”

A California native, Henken began sailing at six years old in the Naples Sabot. He has since competed at the highest levels of the sport in classes such as the 29er, 49er, the International Moth, and most recently, the supercharged, hydro-foiling F50 in the global SailGP Championship.

In 2008, he introduced himself to the world stage when he won a bronze medal at the Youth World Championships, and proceeded to top that the following year when he became an Under-23 International Moth World Champion.

“It’s been my goal since I was a young kid to compete at the Games and to be able to say that I am going to accomplish that dream is a huge moment in my life,” added Henken.

He has spent extensive time with the U.S. Sailing Team, honing his craft and campaigning on the Olympic circuit in the 49er Class. While pursuing his dream of competing at the Olympic Games, Henken also attended Stanford University from 2011 to 2018, where he earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering.

During his time at Stanford, he was a member of the Stanford varsity sailing team and was team captain from 2013 to 2014 during the Cardinal’s most successful season.

“Being one of the 38 Stanford graduates competing for Team USA makes this achievement even more special and highlights that our university has such an incredibly talented and exceptional community dedicated to excellence,” said Henken.

At long last, Henken’s Olympic dream becomes a reality this summer. He is officially a member of the U.S. Sailing Olympic Team and will be competing at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

The sailing kicks off on July 28 in Marseille. Henken will race for the first time on Aug. 1 and the medal race for their class is on Aug. 6.