Brianna Tammaro stands in front of a statue of the Olympic rings holding a Trinity pennant
Gearing Up for the Olympic Games
Brianna Tammaro ’13 welcomes Team USA athletes to Tokyo

Brianna Tammaro ’13 was one of the first people the U.S. Olympic athletes met this month as the Tokyo Games got under way. 

Brianna, an employee of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), is playing a vital role in the Team USA Welcome Experience, designed to outfit and orient the athletes as they come together for the first time as a U.S. team. She is assuming the role of apparel distribution and getting the athletes ready to represent our nation.

“It’s an exciting role,” says Brianna, who is spending a month in Tokyo. “When the athletes put on the gear, the Olympic Games become real for them. They arrive as individuals and leave as Team USA, ready to compete on the world’s biggest stage."

Brianna Tammaro ’13 outfitted Olympic athletes with Team USA gear in Tokyo, Japan, for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games.

“To have a tiny piece of such a grand movement and be part of a greater team is really special. The Games have the unique ability to bring the world together and celebrate resiliency at a time when it needs to be seen most.”

Brianna’s role in Tokyo is a bit different from her assignment at the United States Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she has worked for nearly seven years. She serves as an athlete healthcare program specialist, which involves a wide variety of duties. Brianna provides educational guidance to athletes, USOPC departments, and national governing bodies on topics such as health care, insurance (Elite Athlete Health Insurance), mental health services, a specialized national medical network, and other USOPC healthcare resources.

Brianna Tammaro ’13 at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

Throughout her tenure at the USOPC, Brianna has put her Trinity bachelor’s degree in communication to work in a variety of roles, including talent acquisition specialist, benefits analyst, and Paralympic press officer. She worked with the Paralympians for nearly five years and had the opportunity to travel to Brazil, South Korea, Peru, and other destinations.

“That was one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had,” Brianna says. “To know the athletes and adversities they’ve overcome, just to compete, makes it that much more meaningful when you see their dreams become a reality. It was an incredible honor to help share their stories.”

Starting in December 2013, Brianna was the USOPC digital media content assistant for the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games held in Sochi, Russia.

As part of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, Brianna Tammaro '13 has worked the Olympic Games around the world, including in Lima (left), Pyeongchang (center), and Rio de Janeiro (right). 

As a communication major and sport management minor at Trinity, Brianna participated in the USOPC’s Finding Leaders Among Minorities Everywhere (FLAME) program and did a marketing internship during the summer of the 2012 Games in London. She was encouraged to apply for the program by Jacob Tingle ’95, chair of Trinity’s sport management program and assistant professor of business administration. The University honored Brianna as the 2012-13 Outstanding Senior in Sport Management.

Brianna’s additional experience included an internship in corporate communications with Major League Soccer in New York and position as a basketball communications specialist with Spurs Sports & Entertainment in San Antonio. Her first media internship was with San Antonio Sports, where she worked with Mary Ullman Japhet ’84. 

Brianna, a graduate of San Antonio’s Clark High School, was a member of Trinity’s women’s soccer team during the 2009 and 2010 seasons. The 2009 squad advanced to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals. She also wrote for the Trinitonian and was a member of the Spurs sorority.

“Trinity empowered me to step outside the classroom and learn by immersing myself in environments where I was able to thrive,” Brianna says. “As a student-athlete, I was constantly challenged on and off the field, which equipped me with the skills to be a better professional. I learned the importance of passion, time management, and work ethic in order to succeed.”

She participates in Trinity alumni events whenever possible. As a matter of fact, Brianna and Terris Tiller ’00, the USOPC manager of athlete engagement and inclusion, hosted the Tiger cross country and men’s soccer teams when they competed in Colorado Springs.

By the way, Brianna has another assignment on the books after Tokyo. She will head to the Beijing Winter Olympics early next year!

Brianna may be reached at Brianna.Tammaro@usopc.org.

James Hill ’76, more famously known as Trinity's public address "Voice of the Tigers," retired in 2020 as Trinity’s assistant sports information director.

You might be interested in