New York Red Bulls defender John Tolkin will be joining the US Men’s Olympic Soccer team for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics later this month. Tolkin, 21 year-old New Jersey native, has spent his entire career as a member of the Red Bulls and has flourished to the point where he will now feature on a major stage.
This will be the first time that the US Men’s team will participate in the Summer Olympics since 2008. Unlike the women’s team, the men’s team is comprised of under 23 players which only three exceptions: Walker Zimmerman, Miles Robinson and Djordje Mihailovic. Tolkin will join the likes of Tanner Tessmann, Gianluca Busio and Paxten Aaronson as part of a very talented group of young players that will be expected to prove themselves for future first-team minutes.
Tolkin is no stranger to the Olympic team, having made seven appearances with them as well as a first team appearance in January for their friendly against Slovenia. The defender will be the sixth player to make the Olympic roster from the Red Bulls/Metrostars and the first since Tim Howard back in 2000.
Red Bulls will surely miss him as the team is already feeling the strains of injuries and international duty. Still, the opportunity is one that cannot be passed up and he will represent his country in a premier tournament for soccer.
photo by Matt Kremkau