Former NC State star Diana Shnaider earns doubles silver medal at Paris Olympics
The 2024 calendar year has been a fruitful campaign for NC State Athletics. Now, it can add another trophy through an Olympic silver medal.
Former NC State star Diana Shnaider became the first Wolfpack tennis player to make the Olympic games. And she capped her trip to Paris with a silve medal, alongside Mira Andreeva, in women’s doubles Sunday afternoon at Roland Garros.
The doubles duo lost to Italy’s Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini, 6-2, 1-6 (10-7), to finish as the runner-up, competing as individual neutral athletes.
Andreeva and Shnaider dropped just one set through their first four Olympic matches. They knocked off Australia’s duo in the opening round before taking down Canada and Cechia’s doubles pairings in the next two matches in straight sets.
And in the semifinal, the doubles team had no issues with Spain’s Cristina Bucsa and Sara Sorribes Tormo with a 6-1, 6-2 win. That punched their ticket to the gold medal match, where Andreeva and Shnaider cruised to the top of the podium.
A former ACC Freshman of the Year, Shnaider has impressed as a professional since her lone season with the Wolfpack. She helped NC State win its first-ever ACC title, which culminated in a first-ever appearance in the National Championship match in 2023.
Since leaving Raleigh, Shnaider has reached a career-best singles ranking at No. 30 after winning the singles title at WTA 500 Bad Homburg ahead of the Olympic games. Shnaider entered the Olympics 29-13 during the 2024 calendar year.
Now, she can add a gold medal to her young professional resume.
Other Olympic Results
In addition to Shnaider’s gold medal, former NC State swimmer Nyls Korstanje finished sixth in the 100-meter butterfly with a 50.83 in the Olympic final.
Also in the pool, former five-time NCAA Champion Katharine Berkoff helped the women’s 4×100 medley relay qualify for the Olympic final. She helped the Americans to the lead in the preliminary heat with a 58.98 backstroke leg, allowing Team USA to qualify for the final with the second seed.
