London: With its consistent performance of winning last many Olympic games, United States of America is a serious threat to other major players include China, Russia, UK and France etc. in London 2012
A brief history of US and achievements of its players are as follow:
- The first Olympic champion of the modern era was James CONNOLLY of the United States of America.
- Since the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games, USA have been present at every Olympic Games and their competitors have enjoyed enormous success.
- Ray EWRY won eight gold medals in the early years of the Olympic Games. These were achieved in the now discontinued standing jumps.
- In athletics, Jesse OWENS won four gold medals at the Berlin 1936 Olympic Games but his importance as an Olympian transcends his achievements on the field of play.
- His friendship with German rival Luz LONG sent a powerful message of humanity at an event blighted by the presence of Adolf HITLER (GER). OWEN’s achievements on the track were emulated by Carl LEWIS at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games.
- LEWIS also won four more gold medals in the men’s long jump. His countryman Al OERTER had won four successive gold medals in the discus throw from 1964-1976.
- The USA have enjoyed great success in aquatics. Few expected the seven gold medals achieved by swimmer Mark SPITZ at the Munich 1972 Olympic Games to be eclipsed.
- Michael PHELPS tried at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and was considered a failure when he won only six gold medals.
- In 2008 he tried again and his eight gold medals at the Beijing Water Cube made him the most successful Olympian from any country in any sport.
- Matt BIONDI won eight gold medals over three Olympic Games from 1984 to 1992.
- The USA have always had a great tradition in the pool. Johnny WEISSMULLER won a total of five gold medals at the 1924 and 1928 Games, and Don SCHOLLANDER won seven gold medals between 1964 and 1968.
- Diver Greg LOUGANIS won gold in the men’s 3m springboard and 10m platform at the 1984 and 1988 Games, emulating the feat of countryman Pete DESJARDINS, who had won both in 1928.
- Pat McCORMACK clinched both women’s titles in 1952 and 1956. As Cassius CLAY, Muhammad ALI won light heavyweight gold at the Rome 1960 Olympic Games and returned to the Olympic stage in 1996 to light the cauldron at the Centennial Games in Atlanta.
- Other great boxers from the USA to excel in the Olympic arena include Joe FRAZIER, George FOREMAN and Sugar Ray LEONARD.
- Cities in the United States have hosted the Olympic Games on more occasions than any other nation. St Louis (1904), Los Angeles (1932 and 1984) and Atlanta (1996) have all hosted the Olympic Games.
- The Winter Olympic Games have been held in Lake Placid (1932 and 1980), Squaw Valley (1960) and Salt Lake City (2002). Avery BRUNDAGE, a competitor at the Stockholm 1912 Olympic Games, was president of the International Olympic Committee from 1952-1972.
Anthem: Title
The Star Spangled Banner
Anthem: Year of Induction
1931
Anthem: Composer
Words Francis Scott KEY.
Official NOC/NPC name
United States
IOC recognition date
1894
NOC/NPC President’s name
Mr Lawrence F. PROBST III
NOC/NPC General Secretary’s name
Mr Scott BLACKMUN
IOC Member’s Name
Ms Anita L. DEFRANTZ, Mr James L. EASTON, Mrs Angela RUGGIERO, Mr Henry KISSINGER (Honour)
Year of first appearance in an Olympic and Paralympic Games
1896
Number of appearances in Olympic and Paralympic Games
26, including London 2012
Summary of Olympic and Paralympic Games Appearances
Medals per sport | ||||
Sport | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
Archery | 13 | 8 | 8 | 29 |
Athletics | 312 | 237 | 189 | 738 |
Baseball | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
Basketball | 19 | 2 | 3 | 24 |
Beach Volleyball | 5 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
Boxing | 48 | 23 | 38 | 109 |
Canoe – Sprint | 4 | 3 | 4 | 11 |
Canoe – Slalom | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
Cycling – BMX | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Cycling – Road | 4 | 3 | 6 | 13 |
Cycling – Track | 10 | 11 | 12 | 33 |
Diving | 47 | 40 | 41 | 128 |
Equestrian – Dressage | 0 | 1 | 7 | 8 |
Equestrian – Eventing | 6 | 11 | 7 | 24 |
Equestrian – Jumping | 5 | 8 | 4 | 17 |
Fencing | 3 | 9 | 14 | 26 |
Football | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
Golf | 3 | 3 | 4 | 10 |
Gymnastics – Artistic | 29 | 34 | 31 | 94 |
Hockey | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Jeu de Paume | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Judo | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
Lacrosse | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Modern Pentathlon | 0 | 6 | 3 | 9 |
Mountain Bike | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Polo | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Rowing | 31 | 31 | 22 | 84 |
Rugby Union | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Sailing | 19 | 23 | 17 | 59 |
Shooting | 50 | 29 | 24 | 103 |
Softball | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Swimming | 215 | 156 | 121 | 492 |
Synchronized Swimming | 5 | 2 | 2 | 9 |
Taekwondo | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
Tennis | 17 | 5 | 10 | 32 |
Triathlon | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Tug Of War | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
Volleyball | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
Water Polo | 1 | 7 | 4 | 12 |
Weightlifting | 16 | 16 | 11 | 43 |
Wrestling – Freestyle | 47 | 37 | 26 | 110 |
Wrestling – Greco-Roman | 3 | 6 | 6 | 15 |
Total | 929 | 728 | 640 | 2297 |
Medals per year | ||||
Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
1896 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 20 |
1900 | 19 | 14 | 15 | 48 |
1904 | 77 | 82 | 81 | 240 |
1908 | 23 | 12 | 12 | 47 |
1912 | 25 | 19 | 18 | 62 |
1920 | 41 | 26 | 26 | 93 |
1924 | 45 | 27 | 27 | 99 |
1928 | 22 | 18 | 16 | 56 |
1932 | 41 | 32 | 30 | 103 |
1936 | 24 | 20 | 12 | 56 |
1948 | 38 | 27 | 19 | 84 |
1952 | 40 | 19 | 17 | 76 |
1956 | 32 | 25 | 17 | 74 |
1960 | 34 | 21 | 16 | 71 |
1964 | 36 | 26 | 28 | 90 |
1968 | 45 | 28 | 34 | 107 |
1972 | 33 | 31 | 30 | 94 |
1976 | 34 | 35 | 25 | 94 |
1984 | 83 | 61 | 30 | 174 |
1988 | 36 | 31 | 27 | 94 |
1992 | 37 | 34 | 37 | 108 |
1996 | 44 | 32 | 25 | 101 |
2000 | 37 | 24 | 33 | 94 |
2004 | 36 | 39 | 27 | 102 |
2008 | 36 | 38 | 36 | 110 |
Total | 929 | 728 | 640 | 2297 |
Source: London 2012 Official
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