August 16, 2024 – On the corner of Karl Road and Sandalwood Boulevard in the Northland neighborhood of Columbus, lives the YMCA, where in 2000, five-year-old Alexis Peterson first discovered basketball.
Twenty-four years later, the basketball star made history as she competed at the world’s largest and most prestigious stage - the 2024 Paris Olympics, for a chance at one of the highest honors - a gold medal.
ROOTS IN COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS
The Columbus native attended Oakland Park Elementary School where she competed on the boys basketball teams until age of nine. She went on to attend Ridgeview Middle School where she was a standout star on the girls basketball team. It was her high school experience at Northland that really shaped her love for the game.
“[Northland] shaped me tremendously,” said Peterson. “I think back to being in high school and how it diversified me.”
Peterson credits her involvement in the classroom and in extracurricular activities as the key to her success.
“I learned to interact with people on a personal level, and that’s what I do every day,” she said.“I adapt to different environments. I learn new languages. I feel like I’m a very well rounded person. It shaped me into who I am today.”
The Olympian encourages students at Columbus City Schools to not let fear stop them from Dreaming Big and Achieving More. Something she learned early on while making a name for herself on the basketball court at Northland.
“I let fear limit me from reaching my full potential,” she added. “You can absolutely do anything you set your mind to. Anything that you work for can be achieved.”
At Northland, Peterson led the Vikings to City League and District Championships, scored more than 2,000 career points, was Runner-Up for Ohio Ms. Basketball, and earned several All-State, All-Metro, and All-District honors.
“I had a great time at Northland. It was everything that I needed to get ready for the next phase of life,” said Peterson.
NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION (NCAA)
While in CCS, Peterson dreamed of achieving more by competing at the collegiate level. Thanks to Northland’s outstanding basketball program and Peterson’s work ethic, she attended school in New York to play as a point guard for Syracuse University.
“I went to a school that wasn’t in Ohio,” said Peterson. “It was everything that I could have imagined.”
At Syracuse, the Division I student-athlete earned many awards and accolades during her time with the Lady Orange basketball team. Currently, she is ranked second in program history for total career points, scoring average, and field goals. She is also the school's all-time assist leader.
“There is a level of perseverance that goes into being a student athlete that makes it so special when it’s all said and done,” she said. “Everyone just sees the game. They don’t see the work that goes on behind [the scenes] - the long hours, the early mornings before class, coming back from a game and taking tests, or taking tests while on the road. It’s a full-time commitment but it is so rewarding.”
During her senior season, the point guard led the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in scoring heading into tournament play and ranked top five in almost every Syracuse offensive stat category. This achievement earned her the ACC Women’s Player of the Year, First-Team All ACC, and Second Team All American Associated Press (AP) honors in 2017.
“Do whatever you need to do to place yourself in a position to succeed,” Peterson added. “If you see yourself as a collegiate athlete go for it because you can make that happen. Don’t let anything stop you.”
These achievements opened the door for Peterson’s next big dream - continuing her basketball career at the professional level.
PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL - THE WNBA
Shortly following her collegiate career, Petersons’ biggest dream to date became reality.
With the 15th overall pick in the WNBA draft, the Seattle Storm selects Alexis Peterson from Syracuse University.
Before she knew it, she was packing her bags and trading upstate New York for Seattle, Washington. After their four-month season, she found her world turned upside down when she was waived by the team in the spring. Despite this setback, Peterson refused to put her dreams of playing professional basketball aside.
“Don’t let a ‘no’ stop you. I’ve been told no so many times,” said Peterson. “I’ve been told I’m too small. I’m not good enough - so many times. If you accept that word as a bond or accept those limitations as what people are saying it will stop you. No one can stop you but you.”
When one door closed, another one opened for Peterson. Her dream of playing professionally would continue across seas for Israel in the Euroleague. After one season with Israel, she decided to try her odds of returning to the WNBA where she signed with the Indianapolis Fever before being waived and returning to Israel. Peterson spent the last three years playing in France and looks forward to her upcoming season with BC Pokovice in Poland.
“Redirection is sometimes a blessing in disguise,” she said. “I was redirected so many times that in that moment, I couldn’t see it working together. It was all a setup, not a setback. I’m grateful for the times I got told no. I’m grateful for the doors that weren’t open because at the right time, the right doors were open.”
THE 2024 PARIS OLYMPICS
If you ask Peterson if competing at the Olympics ever crossed her mind she would shake her head ‘no’.
In August 2023, Peterson received a call that the German National Team was looking for a point-guard as the missing piece to complete their team. This team had a chance to compete in the upcoming Olympics. Without hesitation, she accepted the offer. One month before the Opening Ceremony, Peterson received German citizenship and a passport.
It wasn’t until Peterson saw her name on the final roster that the dream of being an Olympian became reality.
“I started thinking about all my experiences, all the tough times, all the good, the bad, the ugly, the pretty, and everything that made that moment happen,” said Peterson. “This is real. We’re doing this. I’m going to the Olympics!”
Representing Germany, Peterson and the team had a long road to the gold medal. A road that eventually led to a matchup between Peterson’s homeland team - Team USA. Opening the group stage, Germany won their games against Belgium (83-69) and Japan (75-64), eventually losing their final game against returning gold medalists Team USA (68-87).
“I represent team Germany, so I'm always pulling for team Germany here, but I am still a German American. I'm also a supporter of athletes,” said Peterson.
The German National Team qualified for the quarterfinals, where 8 teams battled in a tournament style competition for the bronze, silver, and gold medals.
“The goal I have for myself is to win first, but to meet new people, connect with other athletes,” said Peterson. “This is a once in a lifetime event.”
Peterson’s dream of a gold medal came up short with a loss in the knock-out round to silver medalists France (71-84).
HISTORY IN THE MAKING - DISTRICT ATHLETES
Peterson joins the esteemed list of legendary athletes from CCS who also share the unique experience of competing in the Olympics. Alumni athletes include:
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Michael Peppe graduated from Columbus North High School (now Columbus International High School). Peppe was the Diving Coach for the 1948 and 1952 U.S. Olympic Teams.
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Ed Ratleff, a graduate of East High School, was named to the U.S. National Men’s Basketball Team for the 1972 Olympics.
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Jerry Page, a graduate of Linden-McKinley STEM Academy, won gold for Men’s Boxing at the 1982 Olympics.
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Moushami Robinson graduated from Brookhaven High School and won gold in the 4x400m for Track and Field at the 2004 games.
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Michael Redd graduated from West High School and was named to the Team U.S. Men’s Basketball Team for the 2008 Olympics.
“Being added to that list is incredible,” she said. “I hope it inspires someone else coming behind me. I want people to look at me and see that they can do it themselves because I know what it’s like growing up in Columbus.”
Photo credits to Syracuse University.
