Who is Ben Pinkelman? He has been a star on CSU's club rugby team for the past few years and now he is an Olympian. The Cherry Creek High School graduate is headed to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, soon to play for Team USA in the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Colorado State University reports that Pinkelman is training with the USA Eagles rugby team at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula vista, California. He found out Friday (July 15) that he had made the team.

At 22, Pinkelman is the youngest player on the 12-member squad.He began drawing serious attention from Team USA coaches last summer while playing for the Denver Barbarians club team. He started playing with the Eagles in January and has been a regular ever since, even moving into the starting lineup.

Making History

In 2009 the International Olympic Committee voted to include rugby in the Games for the first time since 1924.

Pinkelman, will be joined in Rio by former CSU Ram Janay DeLoach, the defending bronze medalist in the long jump, at the London Olympic Games.

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