The YMCA of San Diego County is proud to have three members from the Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics this year. Get to know about these three local athletes as they compete in Tokyo!
Bryce Wettstein - Women's Skateboarding
Bryce Wettstein is 17 and an active youth at Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA. She is the 2019 USA National Champion for Women's Park format and on Team USA Skateboarding for 2019 & 2020. Being an Encinitas native, she loves to surf, play volleyball and write songs on her ukulele. Bryce says "skateboarding allows me to bring out the best parts of myself and has become a part of my soul."
Since she travels so much for skateboarding, staying in public school is a challenge but she plans to remain there as long as possible and even attend college. Her family will be donating her Olympic training skate ramp to our park for other kids to learn and grow in the sport of skateboarding, just like Bryce did!
Olympic Results
Bryce represented Team USA in the Women's Park preliminary and finals, finishing in fifth place with a 44.50 Q. Check out what the free spirit had to say in an interview with Sports Illustrated.
Amy Dixon - Women’s Paratriathlon
Amy Dixon is a visually impaired professional triathlete and member of the USA Paratriathlon National Team. She is the current US National Champion triathlete, USA Paracycling Time Trial National Champion and is ranked 6th in the world in the Paralympic International Rankings, to name a few of her many accomplishments.
Amy lives adjacent to Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA and often utilizes our fitness center and pool several days a week to train. She is proud to be a regular face at our Y and if she’s not in the pool, she’s cycling or running on a treadmill — all while her guide dog Woodstock sits quietly at her side.
She was always an avid athlete growing up, but at the age of 22, her life changed forever when she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. She lost 98% of her vision and has undergone 33 surgeries to try to stall the disease’s progress. Her incredible story of accomplishment despite being visually impaired has truly inspired everyone in the Y community. “Your only limitation is in your head, not your body,” Dixon says, “You don’t need to have sight to have vision.”
Olympic Results
Amy will be completing between August 24 and September 5 and the Paralympic Games.
Michael Andrew - Men's Swimming
Michael Andrew is a competitive swimmer and the first-ever U.S. Olympian to qualify for the Olympics in both breaststroke and non-individual medley events. Andrew set an American record in the 100-meter breaststroke semifinals at the U.S. Olympic Trials last month and then went on to win first place once again in the 200-meter individual medley. He picked up his third event for the Olympic Games by finishing second in the 50-meter freestyle.
Since moving to the community, Andrew has become a regular at Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA, frequently using the pool to train and prepare for competitions. We continue to be inspired by his dedication and commitment to the sport of swimming and look forward to seeing him compete later this month!
Olympic Results
Michael finished fourth in the Men's 50m freestyle, fourth in the Men's 100m Breaststroke, fifth in the Men's 200m Individual Medley and was part of the USA Team that won Gold for the Men's 4 x 100m Medley Relay.
Cory Juneau - Men's Skateboarding
Olympic Results
Cory has made history as the first American to win Bronze M edal in the Men's Park event representing Team USA.
Amelia Brodka - Women's Skateboarding
Amelia Brodka was born and raised in Nowa Sarzyna, Poland and moved to the United States in 2006. When information of including skateboarding in the Olympics appeared, she knew she wanted to compete and represent her home country to honor her parents.
Amelia has always been an advocate for women in skateboarding. Following directing 'Underexposed: A Women's Skateboarding Documentary,' she hosted a women’s only skateboarding competition which lead to the founding of Exposure Skate Organization, whose goal is to empower women and girls through skateboarding.
Olympic Results
Amelia represented Team USA in the Women's Park preliminary and finals, finishing in 17th place.