United States Air Force World Class Athlete Program
The United States Air Force Army World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) is a military unit whose primary mission is to support nationally and internationally ranked soldiers in participating on the U.S. Olympic team. The program is headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.[1]
| United States Air Force World Class Athlete Program | |
|---|---|
 World Class Athlete Program | |
| Active | 1995 – present |
| Country |  United States of America |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Part of | Department of Defense Department of the Air Force |
| Nickname(s) | WCAP |
Many winners of the United States Air Force Athlete of the Year title were part of the WCAP.
Current roster
| Rank | Name | Sport |
|---|---|---|
 First Lieutenant |
Cylan Bell | Pole vault |
| First Lieutenant |
Riley Coates | Track & Field |
 Captain |
Andrew Donlin |  Handball &  Beach handball |
| First Lieutenant |
Hannah Everson | Track & Field |
 Second Lieutenant |
Carina Gillespie | Distance running |
 Staff sergeant |
Christen Hunt |  Greco-Roman wrestling |
| First Lieutenant |
Kevin Jackson |  Swimming |
| Second Lieutenant |
James Jax [2] |  Baseball |
| Second Lieutenant |
Lindy Jones | Track & Field |
 Airman first class |
Guor Maker | Distance running |
| Captain |
Annette Melcher | Track & Field |
| Captain |
Brandon Mueller | Greco-Roman wrestling |
| First Lieutenant |
Anna Olesinski | Modern pentathalon |
| First Lieutenant |
Kyle Pater | Pole vault |
| Second Lieutenant |
Michelle Spires | Track & Field |
| Second Lieutenant |
Jamiel Trimble | Track & Field |
| Second Lieutenant |
Timothy Wang | _pictogram.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Gymnastics |
WCAP Olympians
13 WCAP athletes have represented the United States at the Olympics.
1996 Summer Olympics
Eighteen of the 19 athletes in the program qualified for the Olympic Trials.
Olympians
| Rank | Name | Sport |
|---|---|---|
 Major |
William Burton Roy |  Shooting |
| First Lieutenant |
David DeGraaf | Handball |
 Master sergeant |
Richard Estrella | Greco-Roman wrestling |
Alternate
| Rank | Name | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Staff sergeant |
Ronald Simms |  Boxing |
1998 Winter Olympics
Deborah Nordyke was the only WCAP athlete.
| Rank | Name | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Airman first class |
Deborah Nordyke |  Biathlon |
2000 Summer Olympics
Thirty-six of 38 athletes qualified for Olympic Trials. One alternate for Olympic skeet.
2002 Winter Olympics
All three athletes qualified for the trials.
2004 Summer Olympics
Twenty-three of 28 athletes qualified for Olympic Trials.
Three athletes were selected for the United States national baseball team. They lost in the quarterfinals of the 2004 Americas Olympic Baseball Qualifying Tournament and did not qualify for the Olympics.
Three alternates.
Olympians
| Rank | Name | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| First Lieutenant |
James Parker | Hammer throw |
| Captain |
Kevin Eastler | Race walking |
| ? | Weston Kelsey |  Fencing |
2006 Winter Olympics
All four athletes qualified for the trials.
Olympians
| Rank | Name | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| ? | Eli Bremer | Modern pentathalon |
| Captain |
Kevin Eastler | Race walking |
| ? | Weston Kelsey | Fencing |
| ? | Dominic Grazioli | Olympic trap |
2010 Winter Olympics
Both athletes qualified for the trials. One was first alternate in Bobsled.
2012 Summer Olympics
Twelve of 14 athletes qualified for Olympic Trials.
Olympians
| Rank | Name | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Captain |
Weston Kelsey | Fencing |
2014 Winter Olympics
One athlete qualified for the trials. He was first alternate in Bobsled.
2016 Summer Olympics
There were 20 WCAP athletes, five competed in the trials and one went to the Olympics.
| Rank | Name | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| First Lieutenant |
Cale Simmons | Pole vault |
2018 Winter Olympics
None athlete qualified for the trials.
Summary
| Olympics | Roster | Trials | Alternate | Olympians |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 Summer Olympics | 19 | 18 | 1 | 3 |
| 1998 Winter Olympics | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2000 Summer Olympics | 38 | 36 | 1 | 0 |
| 2002 Winter Olympics | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 Summer Olympics | 28 | 23 | 3 | 3 |
| 2006 Winter Olympics | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 Summer Olympics | 24 | 23 | 0 | 4 |
| 2010 Winter Olympics | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 Summer Olympics | 14 | 12 | 0 | 1 |
| 2014 Winter Olympics | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2016 Summer Olympics | 20 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 2014 Winter Olympics | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
References
- Powers, Rod (12 April 2019). "Military and the Olympics". the balancecareers. Archived from the original on 21 May 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- Trybulski, Jake (15 November 2018). "Minnesota prospect Griffin Jax wears two uniforms – Twins and Air Force". GlobalSport Matters. Archived from the original on 21 May 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2020.