ST. LOUIS — As the top athletes in the United States head to France for the 2024 Olympics, they'll be accompanied by a special agent with St. Louis ties.
After leaving his post in Muscat, Oman, in 2007, Special Agent Chris Kopeck took an assignment with the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service in a city that was a bit foreign to him.
"I chose St. Louis at the time because I had never been here,” Special Agent Chris Kopeck said. “For me part of the adventure of the job is experiencing new things, new people, new places."
For the past 17 years, Kopeck has called St. Louis home, but his job has taken him all over the world.
"I think I'm up to 49 countries,” Kopeck said.
That includes a stop in Brazil for the 2016 Olympics.
"I was both responsible for the security coordination with Brazilian officials and advising the tennis team on any contingency plans and security situations,” Kopeck said.
In 2021, Kopeck was sent to the Olympic Village in Tokyo as part of the security detail.
"My daughter at the time was younger and was a gymnast,” Kopeck said. “Before the team showed up I got to tell her I was probably going to interact with Simone Biles, which was her favorite athlete. Long story short, I actually got to Facetime Simone Biles with her daughter."
For the last two years, his team has been prepping the safety plan for the 2024 games in Paris.
"The safety and security of the athletes, of U.S. Citizens going to the Olympics, as well of our corporate interests are at the top of our pyramid,” Kopeck said.
While his work is put to the test in front of a world stage, you won't see Kopeck in any of the Olympic coverage.
"If we're doing a good job there's really no attention drawn to it,” Kopeck said. “That's what we prefer."
If you would like more information on the Diplomatic Security Service and its role with security at the Olympics click here.