With just under 4,500 international students at Indiana University Bloomington last fall, Indiana’s sports teams have felt the impact of the large international community on campus.
261 Hoosiers have participated in the Olympics, with 20 of those athletes participating in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. But on campus, international students have become some of the brightest stars in sports.
Football
The bright lights at Memorial Stadium and the 2026 National Championship victory have brought many eyes to the Indiana football team. Even with football historically being dominated by American-born athletes, the Hoosiers will have two international players for the upcoming season: sophomore punter Billy Gowers and redshirt-senior kicker Paddy McAteer.
Gowers hails from Melbourne, Australia, and became a star in the Australian Football League. Although Aussie rules football is a completely different game compared to the American version, Gowers moved to the United States after a five-season career in the AFL. Gowers played in 13 games last season as a punter for the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and transferred to Curt Cignetti’s program this offseason.
McAteer also played a different version of football before moving to America: Gaelic football. The national sport of Ireland is a cross between soccer and rugby, but McAteer used his kicking knowledge to become a specialist for Troy University over the past two seasons. The Mullaghbawn, Ireland, native joined Indiana in the transfer portal this past offseason.
Basketball
Moving just up 17th Street to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, the Indiana men’s and women’s basketball programs also feature international talent.
Istanbul, Turkey native and junior center Samet Yigitoglu looks to help second-year head coach Darian DeVries make the NCAA tournament after the Hoosiers barely missed out on the dance last season.
Yigitoglu transferred from Southern Methodist University after averaging 10.7 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 34 games for the Mustangs last season. The Hoosiers will also bring in freshman center Clemens Sokolov from Nuremberg, Germany.
On the women’s side, head coach Teri Moren will have four international players in her 13th season with Indiana. Senior forward Jess Petrie and freshman forward Zoe Jackson come from the eastern coast of Australia, while freshman guard Camille Pangonis and junior forward Ashlyn Anderson are both natives of Ontario, Canada.
Fall sports
Men’s soccer and volleyball were two fall sports programs to make their respective postseason tournaments last season, plus they showcase international talent.
On the pitch, senior forward Collins Oduro and freshman forward Michael Adu-Gyamfi both hail from Ghana, while redshirt-senior midfielder Alex Matthews is from England.
For volleyball, sophomore setter Teodora Krickovic was first team All-Big Ten last season and is playing for Serbia at the U22 European Championships this summer.
Another fall sport, field hockey, is stacked full of international talent.
The Hoosiers have five international players from countries such as Spain, the Netherlands and England. Madrid, Spain, native and senior midfielder Inés Garcia Prado was named a National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-American last season.
Winter sports
For other winter sports, the dominant men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs are also loaded with international talent. Senior Zalán Sárkány competed for Hungary during the 2024 Olympics, as the men’s side of the program has five other non-Americans on the roster, including swimmers from France, India and Singapore.
The women’s team has seven swimmers from other countries, including three from Canada, as well as New Zealand and Mexico. Junior Jonette Laegreid from Norway medaled in the 400-medley relay last season.
Spring sports
During the spring season, Indiana baseball had three players from Ontario, Canada, including sophomore infielder Will Moore. The women’s tennis team had five international options — including sisters Nicole and Alessandra Teodosescu — and men’s tennis had two.
With many sports free for students to attend, the Indiana teams provide countless opportunities to see international sports stars throughout the school year.
This story was originally published in the Indiana Daily Student's 2026 International Student Guide.
