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The United States has appeared at nearly all modern Summer Olympic Games. It is overwhelmingly the most successful nation at the Olympics with a staggering total of 2191 medals (including 896 gold medals).
The nation's first appearance was at the inaugural 1896 Summer Olympics. The American team won the most championships (11, later recognized as gold medal victories by the International Olympic Committee) and the second-most top-three finishes (20, behind host Greece with 46).
The only Summer Olympics they have failed to compete in was the 1980 Summer Olympics, which they boycotted to protest the invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 by that year's host country, the Soviet Union.
| Year |
Sports |
Competitors |
Events |
Medals[1] |
Rank |
| Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
| 1896 |
3 |
14 |
16 |
11 |
7 |
2 |
20 |
1st |
| 1900 |
10 |
84 |
41 |
19 |
14 |
14 |
47 |
2nd |
| 1904 |
18 |
537 |
95 |
78 |
82 |
79 |
239 |
1st |
| 1908 |
10 |
122 |
54 |
23 |
12 |
12 |
47 |
2nd |
| 1912 |
|
|
|
25 |
19 |
19 |
63 |
1st |
| 1920 |
|
|
|
41 |
27 |
27 |
95 |
1st |
| 1924 |
|
|
|
45 |
27 |
27 |
99 |
1st |
| 1928 |
|
|
|
22 |
18 |
16 |
56 |
1st |
| 1932 |
|
|
|
41 |
32 |
30 |
103 |
1st |
| 1936 |
|
|
|
24 |
20 |
12 |
56 |
2nd |
| 1948 |
|
|
|
38 |
27 |
19 |
84 |
1st |
| 1952 |
|
|
|
40 |
19 |
17 |
76 |
1st |
| 1956 |
|
|
|
32 |
25 |
17 |
74 |
2nd |
| 1960 |
|
|
|
34 |
21 |
16 |
71 |
2nd |
| 1964 |
|
|
|
36 |
26 |
28 |
90 |
1st |
| 1968 |
|
|
|
45 |
28 |
34 |
107 |
1st |
| 1972 |
|
|
|
33 |
31 |
30 |
94 |
2nd |
| 1976 |
|
|
|
34 |
35 |
25 |
94 |
3rd |
| 1980 |
did not compete |
| 1984 |
|
|
|
83 |
61 |
30 |
174 |
1st |
| 1988 |
|
|
|
36 |
31 |
27 |
94 |
3rd |
| 1992 |
|
|
|
37 |
34 |
37 |
108 |
2nd |
| 1996 |
|
|
|
44 |
32 |
25 |
101 |
1st |
| 2000 |
|
|
|
40 |
24 |
33 |
97 |
1st |
| 2004 |
|
|
|
35 |
40 |
27 |
102 |
1st |
[edit] Archery
The United States first appeared in archery at the second of the Olympic archery competitions, 1904. The only nation to compete in the sport that year, the United States took all 17 medals.
| Year |
Archers |
Events |
Medals |
Rank |
| Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
| 1904 |
29 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
5 |
17 |
1st |
| 1908 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
3rd |
[edit] Athletics
Track & field athletics has typically been an American strong point in Olympic competition.
| Year |
Athletes |
Events |
Medals |
Rank |
| Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
| 1896 |
10 |
11 |
9 |
6 |
2 |
17 |
1st |
| 1900 |
43 |
22 |
16 |
13 |
10 |
39 |
1st |
| 1904 |
145 |
25 |
23 |
24 |
22 |
69 |
1st |
| 1908 |
84 |
22 |
16 |
10 |
9 |
35 |
1st |
[edit] Boxing
The United States hosted the first Olympic boxing contests, which included only American boxers, in 1904.
| Year |
Boxers |
Events |
Medals |
Rank |
| Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
| 1904 |
18 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
5 |
19 |
1st |
| 1908 |
Did not compete |
[edit] Cycling
The United States first appeared in cycling in 1900, winning a bronze medal in that competition.
| Year |
Cyclists |
Events |
Medals |
Rank |
| Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
| 1900 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2nd |
| 1904 |
18 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
21 |
1st |
| 1908 |
2 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
— |
[edit] Diving
The United States hosted the first Olympic diving contests in 1904.
| Year |
Divers |
Events |
Medals |
Rank |
| Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
| 1904 |
7 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
1st |
| 1908 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
3rd |
[edit] Equestrian
The United States competed at the first Olympic equestrian events in 1900.
| Year |
Equestrians |
Events |
Medals |
Rank |
| Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
| 1900 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
— |
| 1904 |
Sport not held |
| 1908 |
[edit] Fencing
The United States made its first appearance in fencing in 1900, the second appearance of the sport.
| Year |
Fencers |
Events |
Medals |
Rank |
| Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
| 1900 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
— |
| 1904 |
8 |
5 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
2nd |
| 1908 |
Did not compete |
[edit] Figure skating
The United States competed in the first appearance of Olympic figure skating in 1908.
| Year |
Skaters |
Events |
Medals |
Rank |
| Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
| 1908 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
— |
[edit] Football (soccer)
The United States first played football, known there as soccer, in the second Olympic tournament, in 1904. Two club teams represented the United States in that competition.
| Year |
Footballers |
Events |
Medals |
Rank |
| Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
| 1904 |
23 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2nd |
| 1908 |
Did not compete |
The United States was one of four nations to compete in the debut of Olympic golf, winning both gold medals.
| Year |
Golfers |
Events |
Medals |
Rank |
| Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
| 1900 |
8 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
1st |
| 1904 |
74 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
6 |
1st |
|
[edit] Gymnastics
The first American appearance in gymnastics came when the United States hosted the third Olympic Games.
| Year |
Golfers |
Events |
Medals |
Rank |
| Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
| 1904 |
112 |
11 |
10 |
10 |
9 |
29 |
1st |
| 1908 |
Did not compete |
[edit] Jeu de paume
The United States competed in the only Olympic jeu de paume contests, in 1908.
| Year |
Players |
Events |
Medals |
Rank |
| Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
| 1908 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1st |
|
[edit] Lacrosse
The United States hosted the first Olympic lacrosse contests in 1904.
| Year |
Players |
Events |
Medals |
Rank |
| Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
| 1904 |
12 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2nd |
| 1908 |
Did not compete |
The United States was one of four nations to compete in the debut of Olympic polo, with two mixed American/British teams taking the gold and silver medals.
| Year |
Players |
Events |
Medals |
Rank |
| Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
| 1900 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2nd |
| 1904 |
Sport not held |
| 1908 |
Did not compete |
The United States hosted the only Olympic roque contests in 1904, and was the only nation to compete.
| Year |
Players |
Events |
Medals |
Rank |
| Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
| 1904 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1st |
|
[edit] Rowing
The United States won a gold medal in the debut of Olympic rowing.
| Year |
Rowers |
Events |
Medals |
Rank |
| Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
| 1900 |
9 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4th |
| 1904 |
35 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
13 |
1st |
| 1908 |
Did not compete |
[edit] Sailing
| Year |
Sailors |
Events |
Medals |
Rank |
| Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
| 1900 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
5th |
| 1904 |
Sport not held |
| 1908 |
Did not compete |
[edit] Shooting
The Paine brothers, John and Sumner, earned a medal each of the three times they competed at the first Olympics.
| Year |
Shooters |
Events |
Medals |
Rank |
| Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
| 1896 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
2nd |
| 1900 |
Did not compete |
| 1904 |
Sport not held |
| 1908 |
17 |
9 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
2nd |
[edit] Swimming
| Year |
Swimmers |
Events |
Medals |
Rank |
| Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
| 1896 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
— |
| 1900 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
— |
| 1904 |
25 |
9 |
3 |
6 |
5 |
14 |
2nd |
| 1908 |
8 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
2nd |
[edit] Tennis
| Year |
Players |
Events |
Medals |
Rank |
| Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
| 1900 |
5 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
3rd |
| 1904 |
35 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
8 |
1st |
| 1908 |
Did not compete |
[edit] Tug of war
The United States competed in the second tug of war contest when the nation hosted the 1904 Games.
| Year |
Players |
Events |
Medals |
Rank |
| Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
| 1904 |
20 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
1st |
| 1908 |
8 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
— |
[edit] Water polo
The United States competed in the second water polo contest when the nation hosted the 1904 Games.
| Year |
Players |
Events |
Medals |
Rank |
| Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
| 1904 |
21 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
1st |
| 1908 |
Did not compete |
[edit] Weightlifting
The United States first competed in weightlifting when the nation hosted the 1904 Games, the second time weightlifting had appeared on the programme.
| Year |
Weightlifters |
Events |
Medals |
Rank |
| Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
| 1904 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
1st |
| 1908 |
Sport not held |
[edit] Wrestling
The United States first competed in wrestling when the nation hosted the 1904 Games, the second time wrestling had appeared on the programme.
| Year |
Wrestlers |
Events |
Medals |
Rank |
| Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
| 1904 |
41 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
21 |
1st |
| 1908 |
6 |
5 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2nd |
- ^ Source: International Olympic Committee. The United States Olympic Committee provides different data.
