If you are wondering how to listen to the Olympics, iHeartRadio has you covered. iHeartRadio is the exclusive audio home of NBC's coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics, so it is the only place to listen to the Olympics stream. The free iHeart app is where to go to listen to exclusive play-by-play action of Team USA. To celebrate, we are spotlighting some of the country's athletes that are vying for gold.
Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Joshua Edwards is a 24-year-old boxer set to represent Team USA at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Edwards, who stands at 6-foot-3, has been boxing since he was six years old, a path his father, a boxer himself, encouraged him to take.
However, during his sophomore year of high school, Edwards briefly put down his boxing gloves to pursue a career in basketball. An injury on the court led him back to the boxing ring, where he realized his true potential. According to TeamUSA.com he said, "I realized, if I don’t be careful, I’m not going to be able to do anything athletically. And then I realized I was so much better (at boxing)."
Edwards' father played a significant role in his decision to focus on boxing. He asked his son to visualize a room full of kids in Texas who wanted to go to the NBA and then a room full of boxers in his weight class who wanted to make the Olympic Games. The odds were in favor of boxing.
Despite often being the smaller fighter in the ring, Edwards prides himself on his speed and defense. He believes these attributes give him an advantage over his opponents. His unique fighting style involves keeping his hands high, encouraging opponents to jab at his hands instead of his face, from which he can counter effectively.
Edwards' journey to the Olympics has not been without challenges. He failed to qualify for the Tokyo Games in 2021, finishing fifth at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. However, he turned this disappointment into success by winning gold at the 2023 Pan American Games, securing his spot for the Paris Olympics.
From exclusive NBC play-by-play action of Team USA to live hourly updates from the Games to original Summer Games podcasts, you can listen to the Olympics stream only on iHeartRadio. Find out more about how to listen.