| United States at the Olympics | |
|---|---|
 | |
| IOC code | USA |
| NOC | United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee |
| Website | www |
| Medals Ranked 1st |
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| Summer appearances | |
| Winter appearances | |
| Other related appearances | |
| 1906 Intercalated Games | |
TheUnited States of America has sentathletes to every celebration of the modernOlympic Games with the exception of the1980 Summer Olympics, during which it led aboycott in protest of theSoviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. TheUnited States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) is theNational Olympic Committee for the United States.
American athletes have won a total of 2,765 medals (1,105 of them gold) at theSummer Olympic Games, and another 330 (114 of them gold) at theWinter Olympic Games, making the United States the most prolific medal-winning nation in the history of the Olympics. The U.S. has placed first in the Summer Olympic medal table19 times out of 30 Summer Olympics and 29 appearances (having boycotted in 1980), but has had less success in the Winter Olympics, placing firstonce in 24 participations.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
The United States Olympic contingent is the only Olympic contingent in the world to receive no government funding; neither training and development costs nor prize money are provided by the U.S. national government.[7][8][9][10][11]
The United States has hosted the modern Olympic Games eight times, more than any other nation. These occasions span from the 1904 St. Louis Olympics to the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. Beyond hosting, the U.S. has significantly impacted the Olympics through athletic achievements, innovations in sports infrastructure and technology, and cultural contributions. Its influence extends to advocating Olympic ideals and leaving lasting legacies in host cities. Overall, the U.S. plays a central role in the history and ongoing development of the Olympic movement. For example, the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics pioneered the use of electronic timing devices. The 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, for instance, set new standards for opening and closing ceremonies. Even when not hosting, the U.S. has played a crucial role in the administration and promotion of the Olympics through organizations like theUnited States Olympic Committee (USOC) and its participation in theInternational Olympic Committee (IOC). Hosting the Olympics has left lasting legacies in host cities, such as improved infrastructure, economic benefits, and increased tourism. For example, the 1996 Atlanta Olympics revitalized parts of the city and left behind sporting venues still in use today.
In 2028, the third Los Angeles Olympics will mark the ninth occasion that the Olympics are hosted in the U.S.
| Games | Host city | Dates | Nations | Participants | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1904 Summer Olympics | St. Louis,Missouri | July 1 – November 23 | 12 | 666 | 95 |
| 1932 Winter Olympics | Lake Placid,New York | February 7 – 15 | 17 | 252 | 14 |
| 1932 Summer Olympics | Los Angeles,California | July 30 – August 14 | 37 | 1,332 | 117 |
| 1960 Winter Olympics | Squaw Valley,California | February 2 – 20 | 30 | 665 | 27 |
| 1980 Winter Olympics | Lake Placid, New York | February 13 – 24 | 37 | 1,072 | 38 |
| 1984 Summer Olympics | Los Angeles,California | July 28 – August 12 | 140 | 6,829 | 221 |
| 1996 Summer Olympics | Atlanta,Georgia | July 19 – August 4 | 197 | 10,318 | 271 |
| 2002 Winter Olympics | Salt Lake City,Utah | February 8 – 24 | 77 | 2,399 | 78 |
| 2028 Summer Olympics | Los Angeles,California | July 14 – 30 | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| 2034 Winter Olympics | Salt Lake City,Utah | February 10 – 26 | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Games | City | Eventually hosted by |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 Winter Olympics | Denver | Innsbruck |
The United States made its Olympic debut in 1896 inAthens, the very firstedition of the modern games. The nation performed inconsistently in the pre-World War-I period, primarily due to fielding considerably fewer athletes than host countries, with the exception being the1904 Olympics inSt. Louis,Missouri, where the U.S. achieved its largest medal haul in history, a record that still stands today. During theinterwar period, the U.S. enjoyed its greatest success, topping both gold and total medal counts at four straight Summer Games, before falling short in the1936 Berlin games. The next summer Olympics were held in1948 followingWorld War II. In1952, theSoviet Union made its Olympic debut, initiating a state-sponsored approach to international sport focused on projecting socio-political superiority. The rapid rise of the Soviet Union to challenge the United States as a leading Olympic power raised questions and suspicion about the means used to achieve this, including the pretense of professional athletes having amateur status and allegations of state-sponsored doping. After 20 years of competition on the Olympic stage, the USSR convincingly topped the gold medal chart at the1972 Summer Olympics inMunich. After that, the U.S. would not top the medal table in non-boycotted games until the1996 Summer Olympics, five years after the USSRcollapsed.[15][16] A bright spot for the United States was the1984 games inLos Angeles, where the U.S. set a record for most gold medals won in a single Olympics (83), buoyed by theSoviet-led boycott. Coincident with a drive by theInternational Olympic Committee toward gender parity beginning in the 1990s, the U.S.'s fortunes improved, and the nation topped the medal table in the Summer Olympics six times since 1992 and placed second on two occasions.
In contrast to its summer Olympics status, the United States was not a power in the Winter Games until the2002 Olympics inSalt Lake City. Hosting the games in 2002 boosted the U.S. winter sports program; since then, the country’s athletes have performed consistently well, never placing below fourth in the medal count. The nation won the most medals (37) at the2010 Winter Olympics inVancouver but dropped to 23 medals at the2018 games inPyeongchang.
Summer Olympics[edit]
| Winter Olympics[edit]
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Medals by summer sport[edit] Leading in that sport
Updated on November 16, 2024 *This table does not include two medals – one silver awarded in theice hockey and one bronze awarded in thefigure skating events at the1920 Summer Olympics. The United States has never won an Olympic medal in the following current summer sports or disciplines:badminton,handball,rhythmic gymnastics,table tennis andtrampoline gymnastics. | Medals by winter sport[edit] Leading in that sport
Updated on December 31, 2021 *This table includes two medals – one silver awarded in theice hockey and one bronze awarded in thefigure skating events at the1920 Summer Olympics. The United States has never won an Olympic medal in the following current winter sport:biathlon. |
| Summer | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Rank | Athlete | Event & Year |
 Badminton | 8th | Howard Bach & Bob Malaythong | Men's doubles in 2008 |
 Handball | 5th | United States women's team | Women's tournament in 1984 |
 Rhythmic gymnastics | 9th | Mandy James Alaine Mata-Baquerot Kate Nelson Brandi Siegel Challen Sievers Becky Turner | Women's group in 1996 |
 Table tennis | 6th | Gao Jun Crystal Huang Wang Chen | Women's team in 2008 |
 Trampoline gymnastics | 6th | Savannah Vinsant | Women's individual in 2012 |
| Nicole Ahsinger | Women's individual in 2020 | ||
| Winter | |||
| Sport | Rank | Athlete | Event & Year |
 Biathlon | 6th | Lowell Bailey Tim Burke Sean Doherty Leif Nordgren | Men's relay in 2018 |
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Thefirstmodern Olympic Games, held inAthens, Greece, saw the Americans fielding 14 athletes that competed in three sports. The hosts, on the other hand, had 169 athletes competing and won 46 medals. The American team managed to win only 20 medals, dwarfed by the enormous Greek team. However, the United States managed to win 11 gold medals, edging out Greece, who secured 10 golds, and allowing Team USA to finish first in the gold medal tally.James Connolly became the first modern Olympic champion by winning thetriple jump, andThomas Burke won three gold medals in various track events, assuming the title of the most successful athlete of the 1896 Games.[19]Robert Garrett won two gold medals in the discus throw and shot put events, demonstrating American strength in athletics.
At the1900 Paris Olympics, the U.S. team featured 75 athletes, a significant increase compared to 1896, but still considerably less than the French hosts, who fielded 720 competitors. The most notable of all American participants wasMargaret Abbott, who became the first female American Olympic champion by winning thewomen's golf. The vast majority of American medals were won in the sport ofathletics, where US athletes clinched 16 golds and 39 medals overall.Alvin Kraenzlein made significant contributions, winning four gold medals in track and field events.Ray Ewry won three gold medals in standing jumps (standing high jump, standing long jump, and standing triple jump) andWalter Tewksbury won two gold medals (400m hurdles and 200m hurdles) and a silver medal (60m). Team USA won only 8 medals outside of athletics, four of them in golf. Overall, France dominated themedal standings, winning 29 gold and 112 total medals. The United States ranked second with 19 and 48, respectively, showing great efficiency, despite having significantly fewer athletes.[20]
The1904 Summer Olympics inSt. Louis,Missouri, marked the first occasion the Olympic Games were held outside of Europe. American athletes excelled in athletics, winning numerous gold medals. Notable performers includedArchie Hahn, who won three gold medals in sprint events (60m, 100m, and 200m);James Lightbody, who won three gold medals in middle-distance events (800m, 1500m, and 2590m steeplechase); andRay Ewry, who won three gold medals in standing jumps (high jump, long jump, and triple jump).Harry Hillman capturing multiple gold medals in various track and field events. The games coincided with theLouisiana Purchase Exposition, a world's fair.
Continuing their track and field dominance, Team USA showcased formidable talent at the1908 London Olympics. Notable athletes such asRay Ewry (who won three gold medals in standing jumps),John Taylor (gold in 400m), andMel Sheppard (gold in 800m and 1500m) contributed to the USA's success in athletics. Athletes such asMel Sheppard emerged as stars, claiming multiple gold medals and solidifying America's status as a powerhouse in athletics. One of the most famous moments involving an American athlete at the 1908 Olympics was during the marathon race. Italian runnerDorando Pietri collapsed near the finish line due to exhaustion and was helped across the line by officials, but was subsequently disqualified, allowing AmericanJohnny Hayes to win the gold medal.
American athletes continued to dominate in track and field event, and the1912 Stockholm Olympics marked a significant milestone in American sports history asJim Thorpe, aNative American athlete, achieved a unique feat by clinching gold medals in both the pentathlon and decathlon. He showcased exceptional athleticism in the process and became a celebrated figure in Olympic history. Controversy surrounding the supposed amateurism of athletes led to Thorpe's medals being rescinded due to his involvement in semi-professional baseball. They were returned in 1983, and 39 more years later he was restored as the sole winner of both events. Thorpe's legacy remains undiminished.Ralph Craig won the gold medal in both the 100 meters and 200 meters, solidifying American dominance in sprint events. American swimmers also performed well, contributing to the overall medal tally. Notable swimmers includedDuke Kahanamoku, who won two gold medals in swimming events (100 meters freestyle and 4x200 meters freestyle relay).[21]
Overall, the U.S. placed first in the medal count three times during the early Olympic period, and second twice. These editions witnessed inconsistent event scheduling and programs, which usually favored hosting nations.
Several notable American athletes participated in the1920 Antwerp Olympics, including future legendary figures like swimmerDuke Kahanamoku. These games marked a historic moment for American swimming whenEthelda Bleibtrey became the first American woman to earn Olympic gold in the sport.
In 1924, at theParis Olympics,Harold Osborn set a new world record while winning gold in the decathlon, and sprinter and long jumperCharley Paddock won two gold medals in the 100 meters and 4x100 meters relay.Johnny Weissmuller, who later gained fame as an actor playing Tarzan, secured two gold medals inswimming at the1928 Amsterdam Olympics. The USA dominated indiving events, withAileen Riggin winning a gold medal in the women's 3-meter springboard diving. She became the first American woman to win an Olympic diving gold medal.
The1932 Los Angeles Olympics distinguished itself as the first Games to host outdoordiving events, a milestone in Olympic history. Throughout these years, track and field remained a cornerstone of Team USA's success, highlighted by standout performances such asBabe Didrikson's achievements. American swimmers continued their tradition of excellence, withHelene Madison winning three gold medals in the women's freestyle events (100m, 400m, and 4x100m relay). The U.S. also performed strongly in team sports androwing (multiple medals). Lastly, the 1932 Olympics were significant as they were held during theGreat Depression, and the success of American athletes provided a morale boost to the nation. The games also highlighted Los Angeles as a major international city capable of hosting large-scale sporting events. Moreover, the United States led both gold and overall medal counts at these four Games, establishing itself as a premier sporting power in the world.
In 1936,Jesse Owens achieved enduring international renown at theSummer Olympics inBerlin,Germany. Owens's four gold medals in the 100 meters, long jump, 200 meters, and 4 × 100-meter relay not only established him as a legend but also challenged and debunked the Nazi theory of Aryan racial superiority on a global stage. However, for the first time since 1908, the U.S. ranked second in the medal standings, behind the hosts. The USA men's basketball team won the inaugural gold medal, establishing their dominance in the sport.
Overall, the United States delegations were highly successful during the interwar period, placing first at four consecutive Summer Olympics in 1920–1932 and second in 1936.
The1948 London Olympics marked the first time that newly communist countries, occupied by theSoviet Union afterWW2, competed in the games. The Soviets themselves declined to compete, sending only observers, after a long hesitation that saw Soviet leaderJoseph Stalin demanding guarantees from his sports officials that the USSR would beat the US in the medal standings. The Soviet officials told him that chances were even,[22] and Stalin ultimately rejected the idea of competing in 1948. With its newest political rival absent, the United States comfortably dominated the games, winning 38 gold and 84 total medals, 22 gold and 40 total medals more than the runner-upSweden. The most medals were won in track and field, 27, and swimming, 15. TheUS basketball team won its second consecutive gold medal, defeatingFrance in the final, 65–21.[23] The 1948 London Summer Olympics marked the first time that the Olympic Games were broadcast ontelevision with a more widespread coverage. However, television sets were still not widely available to the public at this time.
In1952,Helsinki saw the Soviets sending a team for the first time. This was a beginning of a new era, as the Soviet Union would go on to dominate the Olympics for the next four decades.[24][25][15] The Soviet authorities provided state-funding to their athletes, who trained full-time.[26] The United States still topped the medal count at these games, winning 40 gold and 76 total medals, 18 gold and five total medals more than theSoviets who finished second.[27] American athletes won 31 medals in track and field, their most successful sport. TheU.S. basketball team continued its winning streak, capturing the gold medal for the third consecutive time since basketball was introduced as an Olympic sport and twice defeating the Soviets in the process. American boxers won all five finals they entered, and American weightlifters edged their Soviet rivals four to three in terms of gold medals, with the two nations sweeping all seven events in the sport.[28]
Melbourne hosted the Olympics in1956. There were calls for the expulsion of the Soviet Union following theirinvasion of Hungary, but theInternational Olympic Committee decided not to pursue any action.[29] As a result, some nations boycotted the games in protest of the Soviets' presence, and the Hungarians themselves became engaged in a violent brawl with their Soviet counterparts in a water polo game, an event that was instantly called "Blood in the Water". The U.S. performance at the games was relatively successful, as the Americans earned 32 gold and 78 total medals (second place in the medal standings), 5 gold and 24 total medals less than the first-place Soviets. The U.S. contingent was particularly successful in track and field, where American athletes amassed 31 medals. On the other hand, the U.S. won only 2 golds in swimming, being unable to stop the Australian domination of the swimming events at these games. In weightlifting, the Americans and Soviets once again won all seven events, with four and three golds, respectively. In boxing, the Soviets won 3 golds, while the Americans only won two events. However, it was gymnastics where the USSR achieved its greatest success, winning 11 out of 17 events and guaranteeing first place in the medal rankings. TheU.S. basketball team won its fourth consecutive gold, beating the Soviets in the final game, 89–55.[30] The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics were the first to be broadcast live viasatellite. This allowed for real-time coverage of events across the globe, significantly expanding the audience reach.
The1960 Rome Olympics saw the Americans losing their grip on their traditionally successful sports, such as track and field and weightlifting. On the other hand, boxing, swimming (where the Americans won 9 gold medals, while being controversially denied gold in the100 meters freestyle), and wrestling produced unexpectedly good results. In track and field, the U.S. won 12 golds, as the U.S. team encountered problems, such as a controversial disqualification of their gold medal-winningmen's 4x100 relay team. In weightlifting, the Soviets won five out of seven events, leaving the U.S. with one gold. TheU.S. basketball team met the pre-tournament expectations and won its fifth consecutive gold medal. The final result of 34 gold and 71 total medals for the U.S., compared to the USSR's 43 gold and 103 total medals, showed that the U.S. was no longer the dominant force in Olympic competition.[31] The 1960 Rome Summer Olympics were the first to be broadcast in the United States on CBS, with extensive coverage.
There was some redemption for the U.S. at the1964 Summer Olympics inTokyo, as the nation returned to the top of thegold medal count for the first time since 1952. Particularly successful was the U.S. swimming team that won 13 out of an available 18 golds and shattered 9 world records. In track and field, the Americans also improved on their 1960 performance, winning 14 gold and 24 total medals. The Soviets, continued to dominate Olympic weightlifting, and, with the American program falling short, the USSR produced four golds and three silvers. However, for the Americans, despite a dismal performance in boxing, where they achieved only one gold, the 1964 Olympics were a definite success, with the nation winning 36 gold and 90 total medals, compared to the Soviet tally of 30 gold and 96 total medals. The U.S. topped the gold medal count, finishing second in the total medal count, while the USSR topped the total medal count and finished second in the gold medal count. TheU.S. basketball team won its sixth consecutive gold, beating the USSR in the final, 73–59.[32]
The1968 Mexico Olympics became the most successful summer games for the U.S. in the post-war era. American athletes amassed 45 gold and 107 total medals. The U.S. swimming team dominated the competition, winning a staggering 51 medals and sweeping the podium on five occasions. The Americans also managed to medal in each of the 29 swimming events, thus achieving a unique feat. The U.S. track and field team won 15 gold and 28 total medals. Swimming and athletics accounted for more than 70% of all U.S. medals and ensured the top place in the medal table for the Americans for the second consecutive Games and their first finish at the top of the overall medal table since 1952. In other sports, however, the performance of American athletes was less convincing. The U.S. weightlifting team continued to fade, winning just one medal. American boxers won 7 medals, of which two were gold, while U.S. divers won 6 medals. The men's volleyball team stunned the defending champions from the Soviet Union, beating them in five sets, but still finished out of medals. TheU.S. basketball team won its seventh consecutive gold medal, a feat not matched by any other Olympic team in ball sports. It was to be the last time that the U.S. finished first in the medal table in a fully attended Summer Olympics until 1996 (the Americans would top the medal standings in 1984 amid the Soviet boycott).[33] The 1968 Grenoble Winter Olympics were the first to be broadcast in color, enhancing the viewing experience for audiences worldwide.
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TheMunich Olympics was largely overshadowed by theMunich massacre in the second week, in which eleven Israeliathletes and coaches and a West German police officer at Olympic village were killed byBlack September terrorists. There were multiple calls to cancel the games after the terrorist attack, but the IOC declined.[34] From a sporting standpoint, these Olympic Games were among the most controversial in history and one of the strangest Olympics ever for American athletes.[35] U.S. world record holders in the100 meters were given the wrong starting time and were unable to compete in the event. In swimming, the U.S. gold medal winner in the400 meters freestyle was stripped of his medal for using his prescription asthma medication, also depriving him of a chance at multiple medals. U.S. boxers complained that they were judged unfairly in the bouts against their communist counterparts. In shooting, a U.S. athlete initially won the50 meters rifle only to be relegated to silver after a "review".[36] Finally, in the most controversial event of the Games, and one of the most controversial events of all time, theU.S. basketball team was denied gold after apparently winning the final match against the Soviet Union. The final three seconds of the game were replayed three times until the Soviets came out on top. The Americans did not accept the silver medals, believing that they were robbed. This was the first U.S. loss in Olympic basketball history, and it ended the Americans' 63-game winning streak in Olympic basketball. In general, the U.S. team greatly underperformed at these Games, winning only 6 gold medals in track and field to the East Germans' 8 and Soviets' 9, though the Americans still won the most total medals, 22. In boxing, the Cubans and Soviets dominated, winning three and two championships, respectively, while the U.S. won only one gold and four medals overall. In diving, the Americans won three medals; in wrestling, the U.S. team surprised with three golds in freestyle. In water polo, the Americans struck bronze, tying the eventual gold medalists, the Soviet Union, in the final round. Swimming was the only sport where the American team did not disappoint, winning 17 gold and 43 total medals. American women dominated swimming for the last time until 1992.[37]
The Eastern Bloc dominated the1976 Montreal Olympics, with seven countries placing in the top ten of the medal table. The United States team was relegated to a third place in the medal standings for the first time in its history. This was an Olympics of contrasts: the U.S. men's swimming team, despite the generally dismal showing of the overall delegation, swept 12 gold and 27 total medals in the 13 events that were on the program and broke 11 world records in the process,[39] while the US women's swimming team, on the other hand, fell victim to what was later shown to be a pervasiveEast German doping program.[40] They still managed to win one gold medal, in an upset of the East Germans in the4x100 freestyle relay. The event was held on the last day of the swimming program, and the American women were risking being deprived of gold for the first time in U.S. Olympic history. The victory was somewhat overlooked at the time, but since the early 1990s, when public revelation of the doping program began, the American gold medal is considered to be one of the sport's most improbable upsets.[40] In track and field, both the U.S. men's and women's teams were overwhelmed by East Germans who secured a bulk of medals in the signature sports of the U.S., resulting in the USSR topping the medal table. The U.S. boxing team surprised everyone, advancing to six gold medal bouts and winning five of them, drawing parallels to a stellar 1952 team that also took five golds. The achievement was even more notable due to the fact that the American boxers were significantly younger and less experienced than their Cuban and Soviet counterparts.[41] In other sports, U.S. divers won five medals, including two golds; the U.S. equestrian team took home four medals; American shooters won three medals, including a historic silver by a woman in themixed 50 meters rifle three positions; U.S. freestyle wrestlers advanced to four gold medal bouts, yet won only one of them, concluding the meet with six medals overall. TheU.S. men's basketball team reclaimed the gold medal, while thewomen's team won a surprising silver, being ranked no higher than sixth prior to the start of the tournament. The Soviets and East Germans were unstoppable in canoeing, gymnastics, rowing, weightlifting and wrestling, going 1–2 in the overall medal standings (49 gold and 125 total medals for the Soviets, and 40 gold and 90 total medals for East Germans). The U.S. won medals in 14 sports, finishing third with 34 gold and 94 total medals. The most successful day for the Americans was July 31 when they won 8 gold and 18 total medals.[42]
The1980 Summer Olympics marked another first for the United States, as the nation led by far the largest and most significantboycott in the Olympic history. The boycott was motivated by the1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.[43][44][45][46][47] The United States and 65 other countries chose not to attend the Moscow Games, leaving them with the smallest attendance since 1956. Predictably, the great majority of the medals were taken by thehost country andEast Germany in what was the most skewed medal tally since1904.[48] The Soviets amassed 80 gold (all-time record) and 195 total (second-best result after the US in 1904) medals in their anticlimactic performance.[49]
In1984,Los Angeles witnessed what was considered a retaliatory boycott by the Soviets and their satellites, although the Soviets cited security concerns and "chauvinistic sentiments and an anti-Soviet hysteria being whipped up in the United States." However, no threat to Eastern Bloc athletes was ever discovered, and the athletes from the Eastern Bloc country that did attend the 1984 games in Los Angeles—Romania—encountered no problems, and in fact were widely cheered above all other visiting nations at the Opening Ceremonies when they marched into theLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum (Romania ended up finishing second in the medal table at the Games). Furthermore, despite the Soviet boycott, a record 140 nations (including China, which participated for the first time since 1952) attended the Games.[50] The 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics marked the first time that the Games were broadcast in multiple channels simultaneously, offering viewers a variety of events to watch.
There were fears that the Soviet Union would boycott the1988 Summer Olympics inSeoul as well, becauseSouth Korea had no diplomatic relations with the USSR, which recognized and supported onlyNorth Korea. However, the policies ofPerestroika that were initiated byGorbachev in 1985 led to the Soviet participation in the Games.Cuba decided to boycott the Olympics on its own, impacting the boxing field as a result. The Soviets and East Germany dominated what would be their last Olympics, winning 55 and 37 gold medals respectively (132 and 102 total medals). The United States placed third with 36 and 94. 1976 and 1988 are the only occasions where America failed to make the top two at the Summer Olympics (although in 1976 they placed second by total medals).
During the Cold War era, American athletes placed first in the medal count five times, second four times (including 1992), and third twice. Out of all periods, this was the United States' least dominant.
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg) | This sectionneeds expansion. You can help byadding to it.(February 2020) |
U.S. athletes have appeared in every Summer Olympics Games in recent decades, with their fortunes having steadily improved in most sports since 1992. America finished second in the medal count in 1992 and 2008, while placing first at seven other Games in that period.
The United States, represented by theUnited States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), competed at the2020 Summer Olympics inTokyo. Originally scheduled to take place in the summer of 2020, the Games were postponed to July 23 to August 8, 2021, due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[51] Theopening ceremonyflag-bearers for the United States werebaseball playerEddy Alvarez andbasketball playerSue Bird.[52]Javelin throwerKara Winger was the flag-bearer for theclosing ceremony.[53] When USA Gymnastics announced that 2016 Olympic all-around championSimone Biles would not participate in the gymnastics all-around final, the spotlight fell on her American teammates. The U.S. had won the event in each of the last five Olympic Games: a formidable winning streak was on the line.Sunisa Lee embraced the moment and stood tall to deliver for her country. She totaled 57.433 to hold off Rebeca Andrade of Brazil (57.298) to clinch the title. Lee also made history of her own. With victory in the all-around she became the firstHmong American gymnast to win an Olympic gold medal, and the first gymnast of Asian descent to do so. With a silver in the women's team final and bronze in the individual uneven bars Lee left Tokyo with an impressive three Olympic medals.Lydia Jacoby, Alaska's teenage swimming sweetheart, made history when she became the first Alaskan swimmer selected to make the U.S. Olympic swim team. She stunned the world to secure victory in the women's 100m breaststroke. Recent major championNelly Korda followed the winning ways of compatriotXander Schauffele to take home gold in the women's golf competition. The 2.01m-tall throwerRyan Crouser retained his Olympic title in the men's shot put and did so in some style, setting an Olympic record three times. The U.S. achieved a commanding lead in the overallmedal count, with 113 medals, but only edged China in the gold medal tally on the last day, finishing with 39 gold medals to China's 38.
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At the2022 Winter Olympics, the U.S. exercised adiplomatic boycott due to the "ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang and other human rights abuses," meaning it did not send any high-level delegation to the Games, but would not hinder athletes from participating.[54] A total of 25 medals meant Team USA won two more medals than in2018, although it still signifies an overall decline after37 medals in 2010 and28 in 2014. For the fifth consecutive games, the Americans won nine gold medals, this time placing third in themedal count. Notable successes includedJessie Diggins becoming the first American female skier to win individual cross-country medals, figure skaterNathan Chen breaking the short program world record en route to the Olympic gold medal in the men's singles,Erin Jackson becoming the first black female athlete to win speed skating gold, andChloe Kim defending her title in the snowboarding women's halfpipe. Veteran snowboarderLindsey Jacobellis, who last medaled in the2006 Winter Olympics inTurin, was the only U.S. athlete with multiple gold medals, winning the women's snowboard cross event, and sharing the gold with teammateNick Baumgartner in the mixed snowboard cross event.
The exclusion of professionals caused several controversies throughout the history of the modern Olympics. The1912 Olympicpentathlon anddecathlon championJim Thorpe was stripped of his medals, when it was discovered that he had played semi-professional baseball before the Olympics. His medals were posthumously restored by theIOC in 1983 on compassionate grounds.[55]
The advent of the state-sponsored "full-time amateur athlete" of theEastern Bloc countries eroded the ideology of the pureamateur. It put the self-financed amateurs of the Western countries at a disadvantage. TheSoviet Union entered teams of athletes who were all nominally students, soldiers, or working in a profession, but all of whom were in reality paid by the state to train on a full-time basis.[56][57][58] The situation greatly disadvantaged American athletes and was a major factor in the decline of American medal hauls in the 1970s and 1980s. As a result, the Olympics shifted away fromamateurism, as envisioned byPierre de Coubertin. They began allowing participation ofprofessional athletes, but only in the 1990s, after thecollapse of the Soviet Union and its influence within theInternational Olympic Committee.[59][60][61]
When a U.S. athlete wins an Olympic medal, as of 2016, the USOPC paid the winner $25,000 for gold, $15,000 for silver, and $10,000 for bronze.[62] The USOPC increased the payouts by 25% to $37,000 for gold, $22,500 for silver, and $15,000 for bronze beginning in 2017.[63] These numbers are significantly lower than in other countries, where Olympic gold medalists receive up to $1 million from their governments for a gold medal.[64][65] Since 2018, payouts to Paralympic athletes have been the same as to the Olympians. TheInternational Paralympic Committee noted that "'Operation Gold Awards' for [American] Paralympic athletes [would] be increased by as much as 400 percent."[66]
In 2025, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) announced a historic $100 million donation from Ross Stevens, founder of Stone Ridge Holdings Group (a New York City–basedasset management firm specializing inalternative investments, with over $20 billion inassets under management). The gift, the largest in the USOPC's history, provides long-term financial support for future Olympic and Paralympic athletes, addressing the financial burdens they face due to intense training schedules that limit career opportunities. Starting with the 2026 Milan Games through 2032, each participating athlete will receive $200,000 in financial benefits per Olympic appearance. The first half of this amount will be accessible 20 years after participation or upon turning 45 (whichever comes later), with the remainder given to families upon the athlete's death. The donation is intended to provide financial security and a springboard for post-Olympic careers. Many U.S. athletes face significant financial hardships due to limited national support compared to their international counterparts.[67][68][11] Unlike many other countries, the U.S. government does not fund its Olympic program, so athletes rely almost entirely on sponsorships and media deals (which generate roughly 75–80% of revenue) plus fundraising (contributing an additional 10–20%). This funding model leaves many Olympians struggling financially during their careers—and even into retirement. In 2024, USOPF president Christine Walshe noted that 57% of U.S. athletes earn $50,000 or less annually. "You don't want athletes being destitute when they finish a long, storied career," USOPF chair Geoff Yang said, describing the donation as "transformational."[11]
United States has had eightOlympic medals stripped for doping violations. In all cases, the US government or theUnited States Olympic Committee (USOC) had nothing to do with it, and sanctioned athletes acted on their own. In the case of swimmerRick DeMont, the USOC has recognized his gold medal performance in the 1972 Summer Olympics in 2001,[69] but only the IOC has the power to restore his medal, and it has as of 2024 refused to do so.[69] DeMont originally won the gold medal in 4:00.26. Following the race, the IOC stripped him of his gold medal[70] after his post-race urinalysis tested positive for traces of the banned substanceephedrine contained in his prescription asthma medication, Marax. The positive test following the 400-meter freestyle final also deprived him of a chance at multiple medals, as he was not permitted to swim in any other events at the 1972 Olympics, including the 1,500-meter freestyle for which he was the then-current world record-holder. Before the Olympics, DeMont had properly declared his asthma medications on his medical disclosure forms, but the USOC had not cleared them with the IOC's medical committee.[71][69]
In 2003, Wade Exum, theUnited States Olympic Committee's director of drug control administration from 1991 to 2000, gave copies of documents toSports Illustrated that revealed that some 100 American athletes failed drug tests from 1988 to 2000, arguing that they should have been prevented from competing in the Olympics but were nevertheless cleared to compete; among those athletes wereCarl Lewis,Joe DeLoach andFloyd Heard.[72][73][74][75] Before showing the documents toSports Illustrated, Exum tried to use them in a lawsuit against USOC, accusing the organization of racial discrimination and wrongful termination against him and cover-up over the failed tests. His case was summarily dismissed by the Denver federal Court for lack of evidence. The USOC claimed his case "baseless" as he himself was the one in charge of screening the anti-doping test program of the organization and clarifying that the athletes were cleared according to the rules.[76][77]
Carl Lewis broke his silence on allegations that he was the beneficiary of a drugs cover-up, admitting he had failed tests for banned substances, but claiming he was just one of "hundreds" of American athletes who were allowed to escape bans, concealed by the USOC. Lewis has acknowledged that he failed three tests during the 1988 US Olympic trials, which under international rules at the time should have prevented him from competing in the1988 Summer Olympics.[78] Former athletes and officials came out against the USOC cover-up. "For so many years I lived it. I knew this was going on, but there's absolutely nothing you can do as an athlete. You have to believe governing bodies are doing what they are supposed to do. And it is obvious they did not," said former American sprinter and 1984 Olympic champion,Evelyn Ashford.[79]
Exum's documents revealed that Carl Lewis had testedpositive three times at the 1988 Olympics trials for minimum amounts ofpseudoephedrine,ephedrine, andphenylpropanolamine, which were bannedstimulants.Bronchodilators are also found in cold medication. Due to the rules, his case could have led to disqualification from the Seoul Olympics and suspension from competition for six months. The levels of the combined stimulants registered in the separate tests were 2ppm, 4 ppm and 6 ppm.[76] Lewis defended himself, claiming that he had accidentally consumed the banned substances. After the supplements that he had taken were analyzed to prove his claims, the USOC accepted his claim of inadvertent use, since a dietary supplement he ingested was found to contain "Ma Huang", the Chinese name forEphedra (ephedrine is known to help weight loss).[76] Fellow Santa Monica Track Club teammates Joe DeLoach and Floyd Heard were also found to have the same banned stimulants in their systems, and were cleared to compete for the same reason.[80][81] The highest level of the stimulants Lewis recorded was 6 ppm, which was regarded as a positive test in 1988 but is now regarded as negative test. The acceptable level has been raised to ten parts per million for ephedrine and twenty-five parts per million for other substances.[76][82] According to the IOC rules at the time, positive tests with levels lower than 10 ppm were cause of further investigation but not immediate ban. Neal Benowitz, a professor of medicine at UC San Francisco who is an expert on ephedrine and other stimulants, agreed that "These [levels] are what you'd see from someone taking cold or allergy medicines and are unlikely to have any effect on performance."[76] Following Exum's revelations the IAAF acknowledged that at the 1988 Olympic Trials the USOC indeed followed the correct procedures in dealing with eight positive findings for ephedrine and ephedrine-related compounds in low concentration. Additionally, in 1988 the federation reviewed the relevant documents with the athletes' names undisclosed and stated that "the medical committee felt satisfied, however, on the basis of the information received that the cases had been properly concluded by the USOC as 'negative cases' in accordance with the rules and regulations in place at the time and no further action was taken".[83][84]
The United States has had eight Olympic medals stripped, which is fifth in the ranking of countries with the most stripped medals.[85]
Unlike most countries, Team USA does not receive government funding. Instead, we rely on donations from family, friends and fans like you.
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