Stacy St. Clair

Stacy St. Clair has been a general assignment reporter with the Chicago Tribune since 2007. Before that she reported for the Daily Herald, the Dayton Daily News and The Topeka Capital-Journal. She has received numerous national honors for her work. Stacy has a journalism degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia, with minors in American politics and Spanish.

USA’s Kennedy Blades kisses her silver medal after falling to Japan’s Yuka Kagami 3-1 in the final match of the women’s 76kg freestyle wrestling on Aug. 11, 2024, at Champ de Mars Arena during the Paris Olympics. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago wrestler Kennedy Blades brings home a silver medal in her Olympic debut: ‘A huge accomplishment’

January 31, 2025 at 5:05 p.m.

Chicago’s Kennedy Blades won a silver medal Sunday to finish a remarkable Olympic debut and usher in a new era of U.S. wrestling.

USA’s Shamier Little, right, hugs her teammates as the Olympic women’s 4x400-meter relay team wins gold Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, at Stade de France in Paris. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago’s Shamier Little strikes gold in the 4×400 relay — the last race on the track of the Paris Olympics

August 10, 2024 at 5:20 p.m.

Shamier Little won a gold medal with the U.S. women’s 4x400 relay team, which crossed the finish line in 3:15.27 to set a North American record.

USA’s Kennedy Blades hits a big back suplex for five points and closes out the tech fall to defeat Romania’s Catalina Axente 11-0 in a 1/8 final women’s 76kg wrestling match on Aug. 10, 2024, at Champ-de-Mars Arena. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago’s Kennedy Blades will wrestle for a gold medal after beating 3 higher seeds in her Olympic debut

August 11, 2024 at 10:14 a.m.

Chicago native Kennedy Blades will wrestle for a gold medal following a stellar Olympic debut that included one of the best throws by any competitor – regardless of gender or...

The sun sets behind the Eiffel Tower while Canada and Switzerland play a women’s beach volleyball qualifying match, July 31, 2024, during the Paris Olympics. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Iconic venues will be Paris’ Olympic legacy — and one Los Angeles will find difficult to surpass in 2028

August 10, 2024 at 9:24 a.m.

As Paris prepares to say au revoir to the 2024 Summer Games, it leaves a legacy of some of the most iconic venues in modern Olympic history.

Wrestler Kennedy Blades tapes up before training for the Paris Olympics on June 19, 2024, in Addison. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

‘I knew I was different’: Wrestling phenom Kennedy Blades of Chicago is ready to step onto the Olympic mat

August 11, 2024 at 8:44 a.m.

Chicago native Kennedy Blades will make her Olympic debut with Jose Martinez’s son Israel in her corner as her personal coach, a reflection of the remarkable bond between the families.

The USA men’s volleyball team celebrates their bronze medal win with a 3-0 win over Italy on Aug. 9, 2024, at South Paris Arena 1 during the Paris Olympics. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Wheaton natives Thomas Jaeschke and Jeff Jendryk win ‘incredible’ bronze with the US men’s volleyball team

August 9, 2024 at 4:43 p.m.

Wheaton natives Thomas Jaeschke and Jeff Jendryk are bringing home Olympic medals after the U.S. men's volleyball team won its third-place match over Italy.

USA’s Evita Griskenas competes on the ribbon in the rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around, Aug. 8, 2024, at La Chapelle Arena during the Paris Olympics. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Orland Park’s Evita Griskenas commuted between Chicago and New York for 3 years to reach the Olympics: ‘An answered prayer’

August 8, 2024 at 4:04 p.m.

As U.S. rhythmic gymnast Evita Griskenas finished her final routine at the 2024 Olympics on Thursday, her emotions rushed to the surface. The gratitude. The relief. The pride. The exhaustion.

Alexa Knierim, center, with her USA figure skating teammates Brandon Frazier and Nathan Chen finally receive their gold medals from the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics on Aug. 7, 2024, in front of the Eiffel Tower at Champions Park in the Trocadero. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Addison’s Alexa Knierim and the US figure skating team receive ‘historic’ gold medals from 2022 at Paris Games

August 7, 2024 at 4:56 p.m.

Addison native Alexa Knierim and the 2022 U.S. figure skating team made Olympic history Wednesday, becoming the first Winter athletes to be awarded a gold medal at a Summer Games.

USA’s Lauren Carlini (7) celebrates a point with her teammates during a 3-0 women’s volleyball quarterfinal win over Poland on Aug. 6, 2024, at South Paris Arena 1 during the Paris Olympics. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Aurora’s Lauren Carlini — the last player cut from the 2020 Olympic team — is battling back from an injury to live her volleyball dream

August 7, 2024 at 2:39 p.m.

Aurora's Lauren Carlini returned from an early back injury to keep living her Olympic dream in U.S. women's volleyball.

USA’s Joe Rau, in red, regroups as he falls behind Kyrgyzstan’s Uzur Dzhuzupbekov in a 97kg Greco-Roman wrestling match on Aug. 7, 2024, at Champ de Mars Arena during the Paris Olympics. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

‘I wanted more’: Chicago’s Joe Rau loses Olympic consolation match in Greco-Roman wrestling

August 7, 2024 at 2:41 p.m.

Chicago’s Joe Rau lost his Greco-Roman consolation match Wednesday, ending his Olympic tournament and leaving the wrestler struggling to regain perspective.

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