Dakota County celebrates Olympians, Paralympians

KSTP
Regan Smith and Gable Steveson.[AP Photos]

On Tuesday, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners are honoring nine Olympians and Paralympians with county connections.

In all, the nine athletes earned 12 medals — five gold, four silver and three bronze.

Olympic athletes recognized were as follows:

  • Megan Kalmoe: The 38-year-old rower was raised in south St. Paul and became the first-ever US four-time Olympian in rowing. She placed in the top 10 in women’s pair rowing during the Tokyo Olympics. She was born in Minneapolis and raised in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. Kalmoe graduated from the University of Washington in 2006.
  • Sunisa Lee: A South St. Paul High School graduate, Lee won the gold medal in women’s all-around gymnastics, a silver in the team event and a bronze in uneven bars. The 18-year-old also placed in the top five on the balance beam. Lee is attending the University of Auburn and currently a contestant on Dancing with the Stars.
  • Payton Otterdahl: A Rosemount native, Otterdahl placed in the top 10 in men’s shot put. The 2020 Olympics marked the first time Otterdahl appeared as an Olympian. The 25-year-old graduated from North Dakota State University in 2019.
  • Regan Smith: A Lakeville resident, Smith won silver in the women’s swimming 200-meter butterfly, a silver in the 4×100 meter medley relay and a bronze in the 100-meter backstroke. She also placed in the top five in the mixed 4×100 meter medley relay. The 19-year-old currently attends the University of Stanford.
  • Gable Steveson: An Apple Valley high school graduate, Stevenon won the gold medal in men’s freestyle wrestling as a heavyweight. He is currently attending the University of Minnesota and has signed with WWE.
  • Patrick Sunderman: A Farmington resident, Sunderman shot his way to a top-12 finish in the men’s 50-meter rifle 3 positions shooting event. He graduated from West Virginia University and enlisted in active duty with the US Army in 2016.

The following Paralympic athletes were recognized:

  • Josh Cinnamo: A Lakeville resident, the 40-year-old Cinnamo won a bronze medal in the men’s shot put. This was his first appearance as a Paralympian.
  • Ian Seidenfeld: A Lakeville resident, the 20-year-old Seidenfeld won the gold medal in the men’s singles table tennis class 6 and placed in the top nine in the men’s team class 9-10 event. His father, Mitchell, is a former Paralympic table tennis player and gold medalist.
  • Mallory Weggemann: An Eagan native, Weggemann swam to a gold medal finish in the women’s 100-meter backstroke, a gold in the 200-meter individual medley and a silver in the 50-meter butterfly. The 32-year-old also placed in the top five in the 100-meter freestyle and in the top seven in the 50-meter freestyle.