United States at the Olympics

The United States of America has sent athletes to every celebration of the modern Olympic Games with the exception of the 1980 Summer Olympics, during which it led a boycott in protest of the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) is the National Olympic Committee for the United States.

American athletes have won a total of 2,765 medals (1,105 of them gold) at the Summer Olympic Games, and another 330 (114 of them gold) at the Winter 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 table 19 times out of 30 Summer Olympics and 29 appearances (having boycotted in 1980), but has had less success in the Winter Olympics, placing first once 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 the

The United States made its Olympic debut in 1896 in

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 the

Pyeongchang

.

Medals by Summer Games   Host country Games Athletes Gold Silver Bronze Total Gold medals Total medals 1896 Athens 14 11 7 2 20 1 2 1900 Paris 75 19 14 15 48 2 2 1904 St. Louis 526 76 78 77 231 1 1 1908 London 122 23 12 12 47 2 2 1912 Stockholm 174 26 19 19 64 1 2 1920 Antwerp 288 41 27 27 95 1 1 1924 Paris 299 45 27 27 99 1 1 1928 Amsterdam 280 22 18 16 56 1 1 1932 Los Angeles 474 44 36 30 110 1 1 1936 Berlin 359 24 21 12 57 2 2 1948 London 300 38 27 19 84 1 1 1952 Helsinki 286 40 19 17 76 1 1 1956 Melbourne 297 32 25 17 74 2 2 1960 Rome 292 34 21 16 71 2 2 1964 Tokyo 346 36 26 28 90 1 2 1968 Mexico City 357 45 28 34 107 1 1 1972 Munich 400 33 31 30 94 2 2 1976 Montreal 396 34 35 25 94 3 2 1980 Moscow Did not participate 1984 Los Angeles 522 83 61 30 174 1 1 1988 Seoul 527 36 31 27 94 3 3 1992 Barcelona 545 37 34 37 108 2 2 1996 Atlanta 646 44 32 25 101 1 1 2000 Sydney 586 37 24 32 93 1 1 2004 Athens 533 36 39 26 101 1 1 2008 Beijing 588 36 39 37 112 2 1 2012 London 530 48 26 31 105 1 1 2016 Rio de Janeiro 554 46 37 38 121 1 1 2020 Tokyo 615 39 41 33 113 1 1 2024 Paris 592 40 44 42 126 1 1 2028 Los Angeles Future event 2032 Brisbane Future event Total 1105 879 781 2765 1 1

Medals by Winter Games   Host country Games Athletes Gold Silver Bronze Total Gold medals Total medals 1924 Chamonix 24 1 2 1 4 5 3 1928 St. Moritz 24 2 2 2 6 2 2 1932 Lake Placid 64 6 4 2 12 1 1 1936 Garmisch-Partenkirchen 55 1 0 3 4 8 6 1948 St. Moritz 69 3 4 2 9 4 4 1952 Oslo 65 4 6 1 11 2 2 1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo 67 2 3 2 7 6 5 1960 Squaw Valley 79 3 4 3 10 3 2 1964 Innsbruck 89 1 2 4 7 8 8 1968 Grenoble 95 1 5 1 7 9 8 1972 Sapporo 103 3 2 3 8 5 6 1976 Innsbruck 106 3 3 4 10 3 3 1980 Lake Placid 101 6 4 2 12 3 3 1984 Sarajevo 107 4 4 0 8 3 4 1988 Calgary 118 2 1 3 6 9 9 1992 Albertville 147 5 4 2 11 5 6 1994 Lillehammer 147 6 5 2 13 5 5 1998 Nagano 186 6 3 4 13 5 6 2002 Salt Lake City 202 10 13 11 34 3 2 2006 Turin 204 9 9 7 25 2 2 2010 Vancouver 212 9 15 13 37 3 1 2014 Sochi 222 9 9 10 28 4 2 2018 Pyeongchang 228 9 8 6 23 4 4 2022 Beijing 220 9 9 7 25 3 4 2026 Milano Cortina Future event 2030 French Alps Future event 2034 Salt Lake City Future event Total 114 121 95 330 2 2

Best results

Summer Olympics Gold medals – 83 (1984 Summer Olympics), Olympic record Total medals – 231 (1904 Summer Olympics), Olympic record

Winter Olympics Gold medals – 10 (2002 Winter Olympics) Total medals – 37 (2010 Winter Olympics)

Medals by summer sport   Leading in that sport Sport Gold Silver Bronze Total   Karate 0 0 1 1 Totals (43 entries) 1,101 873 780 2,754 Updated on November 16, 2024 *This table does not include two medals – one silver awarded in the ice hockey and one bronze awarded in the figure skating events at the 1920 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 and trampoline gymnastics.

Medals by winter sport   Leading in that sport Sport Gold Silver Bronze Total   Ski jumping 0 0 1 1 Totals (14 entries) 114 122 96 332 Updated on December 31, 2021 *This table includes two medals – one silver awarded in the ice hockey and one bronze awarded in the figure skating events at the 1920 Summer Olympics. The United States has never won an Olympic medal in the following current winter sport: biathlon.

Best results in non-medaling sports

Summer
Sport	Rank	Athlete	Event & Year
Badminton	8th	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	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

Flagbearers

At the 1900 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 was Margaret Abbott, who became the first female American Olympic champion by winning the women's golf. The vast majority of American medals were won in the sport of athletics, 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) and Walter 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 the medal 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]

The

Continuing their track and field dominance, Team USA showcased formidable talent at the 1908 London Olympics. Notable athletes such as Ray Ewry (who won three gold medals in standing jumps), John Taylor (gold in 400m), and Mel Sheppard (gold in 800m and 1500m) contributed to the USA's success in athletics. Athletes such as Mel 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 runner Dorando Pietri collapsed near the finish line due to exhaustion and was helped across the line by officials, but was subsequently disqualified, allowing American Johnny Hayes to win the gold medal.

American athletes continued to dominate in track and field event, and the 1912 Stockholm Olympics marked a significant milestone in American sports history as Jim Thorpe, a Native 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 included Duke 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 the 1920 Antwerp Olympics, including future legendary figures like swimmer Duke Kahanamoku. These games marked a historic moment for American swimming when Ethelda Bleibtrey became the first American woman to earn Olympic gold in the sport.

In 1924, at the Paris Olympics, Harold Osborn set a new world record while winning gold in the decathlon, and sprinter and long jumper Charley 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 in swimming at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. The USA dominated in diving events, with Aileen 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.

The

In 1936, Jesse Owens achieved enduring international renown at the Summer Olympics in Berlin, 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.

The 1948 London Olympics marked the first time that newly communist countries, occupied by the Soviet Union after WW2, competed in the games. The Soviets themselves declined to compete, sending only observers, after a long hesitation that saw Soviet leader Joseph 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-up Sweden. The most medals were won in track and field, 27, and swimming, 15. The US basketball team won its second consecutive gold medal, defeating France in the final, 65–21.^[23] The 1948 London Summer Olympics marked the first time that the Olympic Games were broadcast on television with a more widespread coverage. However, television sets were still not widely available to the public at this time.

In 1952, 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 the Soviets who finished second.^[27] American athletes won 31 medals in track and field, their most successful sport. The U.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]

The 1960 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 the 100 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-winning men's 4x100 relay team. In weightlifting, the Soviets won five out of seven events, leaving the U.S. with one gold. The U.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 the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, as the nation returned to the top of the gold 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. The U.S. basketball team won its sixth consecutive gold, beating the USSR in the final, 73–59.^[32]

The 1968 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. The U.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.

The

The Eastern Bloc dominated the 1976 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 pervasive East German doping program.^[40] They still managed to win one gold medal, in an upset of the East Germans in the 4x100 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 the mixed 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. The U.S. men's basketball team reclaimed the gold medal, while the women'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]

The

In 1984, 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 the Los 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 the

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.

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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 the

At the

The exclusion of professionals caused several controversies throughout the history of the modern Olympics. The 1912 Olympic pentathlon and decathlon champion Jim 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 the IOC in 1983 on compassionate grounds.^[55]

The advent of the state-sponsored "full-time amateur athlete" of the

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. The International 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–based asset management firm specializing in alternative investments, with over $20 billion in assets 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 eight

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 the 1988 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 tested

The United States has had eight Olympic medals stripped, which is fifth in the ranking of countries with the most stripped medals.^[85]

• 1972 Summer Olympics, Rick DeMont – first place, gold medalist, Swimming, Men's 400 m freestyle^[86]
• 2000 Summer Olympics, Marion Jones – first place, gold medalist, Athletics, Women's 100 m^[87]
• 2000 Summer Olympics, Marion Jones – first place, gold medalist, Athletics, Women's 200 m^[87]
• 2000 Summer Olympics, Marion Jones – third place, bronze medalist, Athletics, Women's long jump^[87]
• 2000 Summer Olympics, Relay team (Antonio Pettigrew, Jerome Young) – first place, gold medalists, Athletics, Men's 4 × 400 m relay^[88]
• 2000 Summer Olympics, Lance Armstrong – third place, bronze medalist, Cycling, Men's road time trial^[89]
• 2004 Summer Olympics, Tyler Hamilton – first place, gold medalist, Cycling, Men's road time trial^[90]
• 2012 Summer Olympics, Relay team (Tyson Gay) – second place, silver medalist, Athletics, Men's 4 × 100 m relay^[91]

• List of United States Olympic medalists
• United States at the Paralympics
• United States at the Summer Olympics
• United States at the Winter Olympics
• United States at the Pan American Games
• Four
  Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands
  )