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{{short description|American bobsledder}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Aja Evans
| name = Aja Evans
| image =
| image = Aja Evans 2017.jpg
| image_size =
| image_size =
| caption =
| caption = Evans in March 2017
| nationality = American
| nationality = American
| sport = [[bobsled]]
| sport = [[Bobsleigh]]
| collegeteam =[[UNLV Rebels|University of Nevada, Las Vegas]]<br/>[[Illinois Fighting Illini|University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign]]
| collegeteam = [[UNLV Rebels|University of Nevada, Las Vegas]]<br/>[[Illinois Fighting Illini|University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign]]
⚫
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1988|5|12}}
| birth_name =
⚫
| birth_place = [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], [[US]]
⚫
| birth_date ={{Birth date and age|1988|5|12}}
| birth_place =[[Chicago]], [[Illinois]]
| residence = [[Homewood, Illinois|Homewood]], [[Illinois]], [[US]]
⚫
| height = {{convert|5|ft|10|in|m}}
| residence = [[Homewood, Illinois|Homewood]], [[Illinois]]
⚫
| weight = {{convert|170|lb|kg}}
| death_date =
| death_place =
⚫
| height ={{convert|5|ft|10|in|m}}
⚫
| weight ={{convert|170|lb|kg}}
| website =
| headercolor = lightsteelblue
| show-medals =
| medaltemplates =
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport|Women´s [[Bobsled]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{USA}}}}
{{MedalOlympic}}
{{MedalOlympic}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2014 Winter Olympics|2014 Sochi]]|[[Bobsleigh at the 2014 Winter Olympics – Two-woman|Two-woman]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2014 Winter Olympics|2014 Sochi]]|[[Bobsleigh at the 2014 Winter Olympics – Two-woman|Two-woman]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIBT World Championships|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[FIBT World Championships 2017|2017 Königssee]]|[[FIBT World Championships 2017 – Two-woman|Two-woman]]}}
}}
}}
'''Aja Evans''' (born 12 May 1988) is an American [[bobsled]]der who competes as a brakeman. She previously competed in track & field as a college athlete.
'''Aja L. Evans''' (born 12 May 1988) is an [[Americans|American]] Olympic medalist [[bobsled]]der (two-woman) who competes as a brakeman. At her Chicago public high school she was an All-American track & field City Champion in sprints and shot put. As a college athlete she was an All-American and [[Big Ten]] Champion shot putter.


==Career==
==Career==
Aja Evans began track and field training at [[Morgan Park High School]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thechicagocitizen.com/news/2014/jan/22/aja-evans-details-her-journey-2014-winter-olympics/ |title=Aja Evans Details Her Journey to the 2014 Winter Olympics |last=Edwards |first=Lee |date=January 22, 2014 |website=TheChicagoCitizen.com |publisher=The Chicago Citizen Newspaper |access-date=May 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928095157/http://thechicagocitizen.com/news/2014/jan/22/aja-evans-details-her-journey-2014-winter-olympics/ |archive-date=September 28, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> on the far south side of [[Chicago, Illinois]]. She attended [[UNLV]] before transferring to the [[University of Illinois]]. Evans was a college record setting, five-time All-American and three-time Big Ten Champion shot potter at the University of Illinois.<ref>{{cite web|title=Women's Track Olympians Recognized|url=http://fightingillini.com/news/2016/9/11/womens-track-field-wtrack-olympians-recognized.aspx?path=wtrack|website=fightingillini.com|publisher=University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics|accessdate=19 April 2018|date=11 September 2016}}</ref>
Evans attended [[UNLV]] before transferring to the [[University of Illinois]].<ref name="illinoisprofile">[http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/w-xctrack/mtt/evans_aja00.html University of Illinois profile]</ref> Evans competed in both shot put and sprinting in college, and competed in shot put at the 2008 U.S. Olympic trials.<ref name="illinoisprofile" />


Evans was a brakeman for drivers [[Jamie Greubel]], [[Elana Meyers]], and [[Jazmine Fenlator]] in the 2012–2013 World Cup season, earning a bronze in Igls and a silver at the Sochi. In the 2013–2014 World Cup season, she earned silver at Calgary and gold at Park City.<ref>{{USOC profile|EV/Aja-Evans|Aja Evans}}</ref>
Evans began competing in the bobsled after graduation. She was a brakeman for drivers [[Jamie Greubel]], [[Elana Meyers]], and [[Jazmine Fenlator]] in the 2012–2013 World Cup season, earning a bronze in Igls and a silver at the Sochi. In the 2013–2014 World Cup season, she earned silver at Calgary and gold at Park City.<ref>{{USOC profile|EV/Aja-Evans|Aja Evans}}</ref>


Evans was named to the U.S. Olympic bobsled team for the [[2014 Winter Olympics]] on January 19, 2014.<ref name="bobsledannounced">[http://www.teamusa.org/Road-to-Sochi-2014/Features/2014/January/19/2014-US-Olympic-Bobsled-Team-Announced TeamUSA.org&nbsp;– 2014 U.S. Olympic Bobsled Team Announced], January 19, 2014.</ref>
Evans was named to the U.S. Olympic bobsled team for the [[2014 Winter Olympics]] on January 19, 2014.<ref name="bobsledannounced">[https://web.archive.org/web/20140120195531/http://www.teamusa.org/Road-to-Sochi-2014/Features/2014/January/19/2014-US-Olympic-Bobsled-Team-Announced TeamUSA.org&nbsp;– 2014 U.S. Olympic Bobsled Team Announced], January 19, 2014.</ref>


On February 19, 2014, Evans, along with [[Jamie Greubel]], won the bronze medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
On February 19, 2014, Evans, along with [[Jamie Greubel]], won the bronze medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

In 2023, Evans filed a lawsuit alleging that she was groped and inappropriately photographed by her team's chiropractor over a period of nearly a decade. Evans' attorney compared the doctor's conduct to that of [[Larry Nassar]], but he denied the accusations and labeled them “detestable”.<ref name=doctor>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-olympic-bobsledder-aja-evans-sues-team-chiropractor-alleging-sexual-abuse/3233514/|title=Chicago Olympic bobsledder Aja Evans sues team chiropractor, alleging sexual abuse}}</ref>


==Family==
==Family==
Evans comes from a family of athletes. Her father, Fred, became the first black national collegiate champion in swimming when he competed for [[Chicago State]]. Her brother, also named [[Fred Evans (defensive tackle)|Fred]], is a defensive tackle for the [[Minnesota Vikings]]. Her uncle is retired [[Major League Baseball]] outfielder [[Gary Matthews]] and her cousin is baseball player [[Gary Matthews, Jr.]] <ref name=Chicagoan>{{cite news
Evans comes from a family of athletes. Her father, Fred, became the first black national collegiate champion in swimming when he competed for [[Chicago State]]. Her brother, also named [[Fred Evans (defensive tackle)|Fred]], is a defensive tackle for the [[Minnesota Vikings]]. Her uncle is retired [[Major League Baseball]] outfielder [[Gary Matthews]] and her cousin is baseball player [[Gary Matthews, Jr.]]<ref name=Chicagoan>{{cite news
|url = http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-11-23/sports/ct-spt-1124-hersh-olympics-20131124_1_aja-evans-sochi-games-winter-olympics
|url = http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-11-23/sports/ct-spt-1124-hersh-olympics-20131124_1_aja-evans-sochi-games-winter-olympics
|title = Chicagoan Evans pushes herself for Olympic bobsled spot
|title = Chicagoan Evans pushes herself for Olympic bobsled spot
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|accessdate = January 22, 2014
|accessdate = January 22, 2014
}}</ref>
}}</ref>

“I’m a product of Chicago,” said Evans. “Showing people that this black girl from Chicago came to the Winter Olympic sport and really did some amazing things, and it was all because I had that will to win and it was my dream."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kim|first1=Katie|title=For Chicago Olympian Aja Evans Family Comes First|url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/For-Chicago-Olympian-Aja-Evans-Family-Comes-First-469013933.html|website=nbcchicago.com|publisher=NBC Chicago|accessdate=21 April 2018|date=12 January 2018}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
* {{IBSF}}
* {{USOC profile|EV/Aja-Evans|Aja Evans}}
* {{Olympics.com}}
*[http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/w-xctrack/mtt/evans_aja00.html University of Illinois profile]
* {{Olympedia}}
* http://www.ajalevans.com
* {{Team USA|new_id=aja-evans-849645|old_id=EV/Aja-Evans|archive=20230630131951}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME =Evans, Aja
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American bobsledder
| DATE OF BIRTH =May 12, 1988
⚫
| PLACE OF BIRTH =[[Chicago]], [[Illinois]]
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Evans, Aja}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Evans, Aja}}
[[Category:1988 births]]
[[Category:1988 births]]
[[Category:American bobsledders]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American female bobsledders]]
[[Category:African-American sportswomen]]
[[Category:Bobsledders at the 2014 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Bobsledders at the 2014 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Bobsledders at the 2018 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic bobsledders of the United States]]
[[Category:Bobsledders from Chicago]]
⚫
[[Category:Sportspeople from Chicago, Illinois]]
[[Category:University of Illinois alumni]]
[[Category:University of Illinois alumni]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2014 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2014 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in bobsleigh]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in bobsleigh]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for the United States]]
[[Category:People from Homewood, Illinois]]
⚫
[[Category:Sportspeople from Cook County, Illinois]]

[[Category:21st-century American sportswomen]]

[[Category:21st-century African-American sportspeople]]
{{US-bobsleigh-bio-stub}}
[[Category:Female bobsledders]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American women]]
[[Category:UNLV Rebels women's track and field athletes]]
[[Category:Illinois Fighting Illini women's track and field athletes]]

Latest revision as of 06:34, 20 March 2024

Aja Evans
Evans in March 2017
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
Born (1988-05-12) May 12, 1988 (age 36)
Chicago, Illinois, US
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight170 lb (77 kg)
Sport
SportBobsleigh
College teamUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
Medal record
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Sochi Two-woman
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Königssee Two-woman

Aja L. Evans (born 12 May 1988) is an American Olympic medalist bobsledder (two-woman) who competes as a brakeman. At her Chicago public high school she was an All-American track & field City Champion in sprints and shot put. As a college athlete she was an All-American and Big Ten Champion shot putter.

Career[edit]

Aja Evans began track and field training at Morgan Park High School[1] on the far south side of Chicago, Illinois. She attended UNLV before transferring to the University of Illinois. Evans was a college record setting, five-time All-American and three-time Big Ten Champion shot potter at the University of Illinois.[2]

Evans began competing in the bobsled after graduation. She was a brakeman for drivers Jamie Greubel, Elana Meyers, and Jazmine Fenlator in the 2012–2013 World Cup season, earning a bronze in Igls and a silver at the Sochi. In the 2013–2014 World Cup season, she earned silver at Calgary and gold at Park City.[3]

Evans was named to the U.S. Olympic bobsled team for the 2014 Winter Olympics on January 19, 2014.[4]

On February 19, 2014, Evans, along with Jamie Greubel, won the bronze medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

In 2023, Evans filed a lawsuit alleging that she was groped and inappropriately photographed by her team's chiropractor over a period of nearly a decade. Evans' attorney compared the doctor's conduct to that of Larry Nassar, but he denied the accusations and labeled them “detestable”.[5]

Family[edit]

Evans comes from a family of athletes. Her father, Fred, became the first black national collegiate champion in swimming when he competed for Chicago State. Her brother, also named Fred, is a defensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings. Her uncle is retired Major League Baseball outfielder Gary Matthews and her cousin is baseball player Gary Matthews, Jr.[6]

“I’m a product of Chicago,” said Evans. “Showing people that this black girl from Chicago came to the Winter Olympic sport and really did some amazing things, and it was all because I had that will to win and it was my dream."[7]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Edwards, Lee (January 22, 2014). "Aja Evans Details Her Journey to the 2014 Winter Olympics". TheChicagoCitizen.com. The Chicago Citizen Newspaper. Archived from the original on September 28, 2018. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  2. ^ "Women's Track Olympians Recognized". fightingillini.com. University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics. 11 September 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  3. ^ Aja Evans at Team USA (archived)
  4. ^ TeamUSA.org – 2014 U.S. Olympic Bobsled Team Announced, January 19, 2014.
  5. ^ "Chicago Olympic bobsledder Aja Evans sues team chiropractor, alleging sexual abuse".
  6. ^ Hersh, Philip (November 23, 2013). "Chicagoan Evans pushes herself for Olympic bobsled spot". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  7. ^ Kim, Katie (12 January 2018). "For Chicago Olympian Aja Evans Family Comes First". nbcchicago.com. NBC Chicago. Retrieved 21 April 2018.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aja_Evans&oldid=1214641927"