WEST SENECA, N.Y. — There are eight people with connections to Western New York who are taking part in the 2024 Paris Olympics, and one of them is Matt Anderson.
Here's what you need to know about the Buffalo-area Olympic athlete.
Birthplace: West Seneca
High school: West Seneca West
College: Penn State
Age: 37
Height: 6 feet, 10 inches
Sport: Men's volleyball
Profile: Matt Anderson is going back to the Olympics for a fourth time. Anderson won an Olympic bronze medal back at the games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
Team USA won two of its first three matches three years ago during the Summer Games in Tokyo before ultimately falling to fifth place in pool play. The team missed the quarterfinals for the first time in 21 years.
Back home, Anderson's family and friends watched his every match during the Tokyo Olympics, with watch parties that began as late as 10 p.m.
Now comes another chance for Anderson over in Paris, where the Olympics run through Aug. 11. These Summer Games will be on shown on NBC and Channel 2.
"The hours in the gym, early mornings & late nights seem endless at times," he said back in May, after the announcement that he made the team.
"Lucky to have been in the position to put my head down and work through pain, heartbreak, triumph, personal loss, and still come out with the endless support from my superhero wife @snackieanderson, my beautiful children, my family, and my friends."
Anderson became the youngest member of Team USA Men's Volleyball in 2010, and competed in the Olympics in London, Rio de Janeiro, and Tokyo.
After graduating from West Seneca West in 2005, Anderson played in college at Penn State. He's now technically a Florida resident but trains in California. His wife and 2 young children live in Indianapolis, and he's spent most of his professional career playing in Russia and Turkey.
"I'm a child of the world at this point. I guess you can say I'm all over the place, but Buffalo always has my heart in a lot of ways," Anderson told 2 On Your Side.
Matt returned to his alma mater with his bronze from Rio to see his jersey and number retired. Now when he comes home he cheers his other favorite red, white and blue team- the Bills.
"I'm a die hard Bills fan. Always. Season ticket holder. Bills Mafia!" he said.
And the Matt Mafia will be coming together in Buffalo for watch parties as they've done for his past three Olympic games.
"I do want everyone in Buffalo to know that I do think about them, and I do appreciate the support and love through the years and definitely continue through this Olympic run, and I hope to bring a gold medal back, and we'll have a meet and greet, and everyone can hold the medal and take pictures if it happens."
When to watch: Team USA has first-round matches July 27 against Argentina, July 30 against Germany, and August 2 against Japan.
