2023 SEA Games: Lao-Americans Representing Laos

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Athletes from Laos have long excelled at sports like soccer but many Olympic sports are still in the early stages of development in the nation. Lacking expertise, training facilities and funding, Laos has struggled to even field entries at most major international competitions. That is about to change. As Lao people have dispersed around the world they and their descendants have excelled in a variety of sports. Lao athletes have become local champions, competed at the top of NCAA, repressed their home countries in major international competition, and joined professional leagues. It is our mission to bring this experience back to Laos and elevate the profile of the nation on the international stage. A group of Lao-American athletes have banded together and will compete side by side with their local counterparts at the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia. We hope this marks a new day for Laos in international athletics and are working to unite Lao athletes from around the globe at future events. The athletes and their families are bearing 100% of the cost of the trip which will run several thousand dollars each. They are also hoping to support their local counterparts by bringing international quality gear and uniforms to share. We are asking those who believe in our mission and these athletes to consider supporting these efforts through a monetary donation.
Dawson Sihavong: Dawson is a wrestler from Clovis, CA, who just wrapped up an accomplished career at Stanford University. During high school, Dawson racked up a long list of accomplishments including being a 6X USA Wrestling All-American, California Triple Crown Champion and Folkstyle National Champion. Dawson’s father, Nara, was born in Vientiane, Laos, and wrestled at George Mason University. Nara is also a long-time wrestling coach and is lending his expertise to the Lao Wrestling Federation.
Angelina Samayavong Messina: Angelina is a swimmer from St Charles, IL, and currently competes for the University of Pittsburgh. As a teenager, she won several Illinois Swimming championships, was a NISCA All-American, competed on Team Illinois and was invited to two U.S.A Swimming Olympic development camps. At the age of sixteen, she became the first known Lao American to qualify for and compete at a U.S. Olympic Swim Team Trials leading up to the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Angelina’s mother was born in Vientiane, Laos.
Steven Insixiengmay: Steven is a swimmer from Winston-Salem, NC, and currently competes at the University of Georgia. As a child he excelled in both martial arts and swimming but eventually decided to focus his efforts on the water. He was invited to participate in two U.S.A. Swimming Olympic development camps including the 2021 U.S.A. Swimming National Select Camp which is reserved for the top 46 young Olympic prospects in the nation. Both of Steven’s parents were born in Vientiane, Laos.
Astrid Amphonephong Dirkzwager: Astrid is a swimmer from Wichita, KS, who currently competes for Georgia Tech University alongside her sister, Ariana. Prior to college, she swam at Wichita East High School setting records in the 100 Back, 100 Butterfly, the 100, 200 and 500 Freestyle events and several relays. The All-American is a five-time Kansas Class 6A state champion and was selected to attend U.S.A swimming’s National Diversity Select Camp in 2018. Her mother was born in Vientiane, Laos.
Ariana Amphonephong Dirkzwager: Ariana is a swimmer from Wichita, KS, who currently competes for Georgia Tech University alongside her older sister, Astrid. Ariana left her mark on Kansas swimming by taking a pair of high school Class 6A titles in the 50 and 100 freestyle events during the 2021 Kansas High School State Championship. Her mother was born in Vientiane, Laos.