Sports Features
The 98 Percent: NIL and a New Era of Opportunity for Harvard Student-Athletes
On July 1, 2021, a seismic shift occurred in the landscape of college athletics. When the NCAA adopted policies that grant Division I, II, and III student-athletes the right to profit off their name, image, and likeness (NIL), former Harvard men’s water polo player Nick Bunn ’19 and childhood teammate Andrew Mavis (who also starred in college at George Washington) launched a company help student-athletes connect directly with potential partners and profit from their NIL.
Aiming Towards a New Goal
Former George Washington star and three-time ACWPC All-America honorable mention Andrew Mavis finished his illustrious college career in 2019, but has remained close to collegiate athletics through his passion for helping student-athletes navigate the new era of NIL.
Shooting From a Distance
Nick Bunn ‘19 fires a shot on goal during his playing days at Harvard. He hopes to continue impacting the campus and Harvard student-athletes through his new company, 98Strong.
In Photos: Harvard Athletic Events Return to Campus in Full Force
For the first time in roughly a year and a half, Harvard Athletics is back. Four teams took to the pool, field, and court across campus as fans cheered them on in an action-packed weekend after the first days of classes.
Out for a Swim
Joe Kaufman '89 powers past the Manhattan skyline, accompanied by a boat and kayak to provide cover.
Skyline Swim
Kaufman does freestyle as the iconic Lower Manhattan skyline, highlighted by One World Trade Center, looms in the background.
Just Keep Swimming: From Blodgett Pool to Manhattan Rivers
Even after four years of evading opponents in Blodgett Pool as a Harvard undergraduate, former Men’s Water Polo player Joseph H. Kaufman ’89 had never taken on a physical task as daunting as swimming the nearly 30-mile loop around Manhattan. That is until this summer, when Kaufman decided to take the plunge through the turbulent tides of the East, Harlem, and Hudson Rivers in New York City.
Olympian for Life
With a two-medal performance in Tokyo, Gabby Thomas '19, pictured above during her Harvard tenure, headlines the class of 15 current and former Crimson student-athletes competing at the Games.
Olympians for Life: A Recap of Harvard’s Student-Athletes at the 2020 Tokyo Games
The 32nd Olympiad wrapped up on Saturday in Tokyo, but not before 16 Harvard affiliates, including 15 former and current students, fulfilled their athletic dreams by competing in the Games.
Going for Gold
While multiple Harvard alums will be rowing in Tokyo, Dean (pictured in the foreground in the stroke position) is the only actively enrolled Crimson rower to suit up in Japan. After the uncertainty of a year's postponement, Dean and others will finally compete this week.
With the Olympics Around the Corner, Harvard and Radcliffe Rowers Prepare to Make Their Mark
Dean is the only enrolled Crimson rower headed to the Olympics, but not the only Harvard affiliate; alumni Andrew Reed, Alexander Richards ’18, Conor Harrity ’18, Liam Corrigan ’19, and Olivia Coffey ’11 from the Radcliffe team are competing for America. Sam Hardy ’18 and Josh Hicks ’13 are competing for Australia, and Jüri-Mikk Udam ’17 is rowing for Estonia.
Senior Perspective: Gabrielle Fernandopulle
As of June 1, it’s been 562 days since we last competed. But I’ve felt the strength and lessons of my team more so in the last 562 days off the field than I could have imagined. Harvard Women’s Rugby, more than anything else at Harvard, taught me how to learn, how to be a teammate, and how to be brave.
Senior Perspective: Matt Thomas
It’s a strange thing to have the last 75 games of your collegiate career cancelled. In fact, during my four years, I only played in one-third as many. The Harvard Baseball Team has been such a core part of my identity in college, so I struggled to find direction and purpose when it was taken away. What did it mean to be a Harvard baseball player if we didn’t play any games?