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Athens celebrates local Olympian Gwen Phillips and revisits Lester Kearney’s Olympic legacy

Athens City Council (government channel weekly update) · February 19, 2026

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Summary

The host noted Athens native Gwen Phillips is one of three goalkeepers for the U.S. women's Olympic hockey team in the gold-medal round; the program also aired a history minute on Lester Kearney, an Ohio University alumnus and 1960 Olympic silver medalist.

Host highlighted a local athlete reaching the Olympic stage and the government channel aired a history minute celebrating a local Olympian's legacy. "Gwen Phillips, who is a homegrown Athenian, is one of the three goalkeepers for the U.S. women's Olympic hockey team," the Host said, noting she would take part in the gold-medal game against Canada the following evening.

The segment emphasized Phillips's local roots — "she grew up here, learned to skate, and early hockey at Bird Arena" — and framed her selection as a point of civic pride for Athens.

The program then aired an Athens History Minute about Lester Kearney, describing his path from Ohio University athletics to the 1960 Rome Olympics. A narrator recounted that Kearney "stormed through the 200 meters to claim the silver medal, tying the Olympic record," and noted his legacy is preserved in local track facilities.

Both items were presented as community-interest features rather than agenda items; no formal city action or funding was announced in relation to either feature.