If you are wondering how to listen to the Olympics, iHeartRadio has you covered. iHeartRadio is the exclusive audio home of NBC's coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics, so it is the only place to listen to the Olympics stream. The free iHeart app is where to go to listen to exclusive play-by-play action of Team USA. To celebrate, we are spotlighting some of the country's athletes that are vying for gold.
Born on October 3, 1999, in Indianapolis, Indiana, Piper Kelly is a rising star in the world of speed climbing. The 24-year-old athlete has qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics, marking a significant milestone in her career.
Kelly was born to Stephanie Kelly and John Kelly and began rock climbing at a gym with her father and uncles when she was just seven years old. Despite her early passion for climbing, Kelly initially focused on more mainstream sports, including volleyball, football (soccer), track, and cross-country. However, at age 12, she returned to climbing and joined a competitive team.
Kelly attended Irvington Preparatory Academy and later Xavier University, where she studied exercise science, psychology, and Spanish, graduating in 2023. Her journey to the Olympics was not without challenges. In 2019, while training for the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) Climbing World Cup, Kelly suffered a partial shoulder dislocation. Despite this setback, she decided to compete but had to withdraw after suffering two more subluxations. Kelly underwent surgery in July 2020 and spent close to two years recovering and rehabilitating her shoulder.
Despite these challenges, Kelly's determination never wavered. She returned to competition at the IFSC Climbing World Cup in May 2022. Her breakthrough came at the 2023 Pan American Games, where she set her personal best competition time (7.52 sec) and earned a gold medal. This victory secured her a spot on the U.S. team for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Off the climbing wall, Kelly enjoys coaching and working with younger athletes. She currently resides and trains in Salt Lake City, Utah.
From exclusive NBC play-by-play action of Team USA to live hourly updates from the Games to original Summer Games podcasts, you can listen to the Olympics stream only on iHeartRadio. Find out more about how to listen.