The Best Olympic Athletes from United States Of America

Updated June 14, 2019 6.2k votes 353 voters 9.3k views204 items

List RulesAthletes from any sport who have competed in the Olympics

List of the greatest Olympic athletes from United States of America, with photos when available. These are the best United States of America Olympians of all time who have had the honor of representing their country at the prestigious Olympic games. United States of America athletes from every era all have their place in the Olympic history books, but which United States of America Olympian is the best of them all? You can decide who the greatest Olympic competitor from United States of America is by how many medals they took back to their country, but that isn't the only factor that comes into play when considering who the best really is.

A list made up of athletes like Dwight Howard and Lamar Odom.

This list answers the questions, "Who is the best United States of America Olympian of all time?" and "Who are the greatest Olympians from United States of America?"

America, Russia and Great Britain have the most Olympic medals out of every country that has been represented in the Olympics, but it doesn't mean that Olympic competitors from other nations don't deserve accolades as well. Vote for your favorite United States of America Olympic athletes on this list, and downvote the ones that you don't think had a huge impact on United States of America.

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Michael Phelps
Men's 100m butterfly, Men's 400m individual medley
Olympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1985-06-30
Place Of Birth: Baltimore,United States of America,Maryland
Olympic Sport: Swimming
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metre butterfly,Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's 400 metre individual medley,Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's 4 x 100 metre medley relay,Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Men's 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay,Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay
Weight: 91.0
Olympic Medalist Games: 2008 Summer Olympics,2004 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2004 Summer Olympics,2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal,Bronze medal
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Jesse Owens
Men's Long jump, Men's Athletics
Olympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1913-09-12
Place Of Birth: Oakville,Alabama
Olympic Sport: Track and field athletics
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Athletics at the 1936 Summer Olympics – Men's long jump,Athletics at the 1936 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metres,Athletics at the 1936 Summer Olympics – Men's 4x100 metre relay,Athletics at the 1936 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metres
Olympic Medalist Games: 1936 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 1936 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal
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Jim Thorpe
Men's Decathlon, Men's Pentathlon
Olympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1888-05-28
Place Of Birth: Prague,Oklahoma,Lincoln County,United States of America,United States
Olympic Sport: Modern pentathlon
Nationality: United States of America,France
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Athletics at the 1912 Summer Olympics - Men's decathlon,Athletics at the 1912 Summer Olympics - Men's pentathlon
Weight: 91.6256648
Olympic Medalist Games: 1912 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 1912 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal
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Serena Williams
Women's Tennis, doubles
Olympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1981-09-26
Place Of Birth: Saginaw,United States of America,Michigan,Saginaw County
Olympic Sport: Tennis
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Tennis at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's Doubles
Weight: 70.3
Olympic Medalist Games: 2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal
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Lindsey Vonn
Women's Downhill, Women's Super-G
Olympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1984-10-18
Place Of Birth: Saint Paul,United States of America,Minnesota,Ramsey County
Olympic Sport: Alpine skiing
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Alpine skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Women's downhill,Alpine skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Women's Super-G
Olympic Medalist Games: 2010 Winter Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2002 Winter Olympics,2006 Winter Olympics,2010 Winter Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal,Bronze medal
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Shawn Johnson
Women's Gymnastics, team competition
Olympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1992-01-19
Place Of Birth: West Des Moines,United States of America,Iowa,Dallas County,Polk County
Olympic Sport: Artistic gymnastics
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Gymnastics at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's artistic team all-around,Gymnastics at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's Floor,Gymnastics at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's Balance Beam,Gymnastics at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's artistic individual all-around
Olympic Medalist Games: 2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Silver medal,Gold medal
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Larry Bird
Men's basketball
Olympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1956-12-07
Place Of Birth: West Baden Springs,United States of America,Indiana,Orange County,French Lick Township
Olympic Sport: Basketball
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Basketball at the 1992 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medalist Games: 1992 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 1992 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal
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Shaun White
Men's Halfpipe
Olympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1986-09-03
Place Of Birth: Carlsbad,United States of America,California,San Diego County
Olympic Sport: Snowboarding
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Snowboarding at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's halfpipe,Snowboarding at the 2006 Winter Olympics - Men's Halfpipe
Weight: 63.0
Olympic Medalist Games: 2010 Winter Olympics,2006 Winter Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2006 Winter Olympics,2010 Winter Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal
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Mark Spitz
Men's 200m butterfly, Men's 4x100m freestyle relay
Olympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1950-02-10
Place Of Birth: Modesto,United States of America,California,Stanislaus County
Olympic Sport: Swimming
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics - Men's 200 metre butterfly,Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics - Men's 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay,Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics - Men's 200 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metre butterfly
Olympic Medalist Games: 1972 Summer Olympics,1968 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 1968 Summer Olympics,1972 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal,Bronze medal,Silver medal
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Peggy Fleming
Women's Singles
Olympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1948-07-27
Place Of Birth: San Jose,United States of America,Northern California,California,Santa Clara County
Olympic Sport: Figure skating
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Figure skating at the 1968 Winter Olympics - Women's Singles
Olympic Medalist Games: 1968 Winter Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 1968 Winter Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal
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Kobe Bryant
Men's basketball
Olympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1978-08-23
Place Of Birth: Philadelphia,United States of America,Pennsylvania
Olympic Sport: Basketball
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Men
Weight: 93.0
Olympic Medalist Games: 2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal
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Jennie Finch
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Apolo Ohno
Men's 1000m, Men's 5000m Relay
Olympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1982-05-22
Place Of Birth: Federal Way,Washington,King County,United States of America,United States
Olympic Sport: Short track speed skating
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Short track speed skating at the 2006 Winter Olympics – Men's 5000 metre relay,Short track speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's 1000 metres,Short track speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's 5000 metre relay,Short Track Speed Skating at the 2006 Winter Olympics – Men's 1000m,Short Track Speed Skating at the 2006 Winter Olympics – Men's 500m
Weight: 61.0
Olympic Medalist Games: 2006 Winter Olympics,2010 Winter Olympics,2002 Winter Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2006 Winter Olympics,2002 Winter Olympics,2010 Winter Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Bronze medal,Gold medal,Silver medal
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Greg Louganis
Men's 10 metre platform, Men's 3 metre springboard
Olympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1960-01-29
Place Of Birth: El Cajon,United States of America,California,San Diego County
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Diving at the 1988 Summer Olympics - Men's 10 metre platform,Diving at the 1988 Summer Olympics - Men's 3 metre springboard,Diving at the 1976 Summer Olympics - Men's 10 metre platform,Diving at the 1984 Summer Olympics - Men's 3 metre springboard,Diving at the 1984 Summer Olympics - Men's 10 metre platform
Olympic Medalist Games: 1988 Summer Olympics,1976 Summer Olympics,1984 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 1984 Summer Olympics,1976 Summer Olympics,1988 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal,Silver medal
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Stephon Marbury
Men's basketball
Olympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1977-02-20
Place Of Birth: Brooklyn,United States of America,New York City,New York
Olympic Sport: Basketball
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's basketball
Olympic Medalist Games: 2004 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2004 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Bronze medal
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Lacy Schnoor
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Dorothy Hamill
Women's Singles
Olympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1956-07-26
Place Of Birth: Chicago,United States of America,Illinois,Chicagoland
Olympic Sport: Figure skating
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Figure skating at the 1976 Winter Olympics - Women's Singles
Olympic Medalist Games: 1976 Winter Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 1976 Winter Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal
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Kurt Angle
Men's Freestyle Wrestling, Heavyweight 90-100kg
Olympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1968-12-09
Place Of Birth: Mt. Lebanon,Pennsylvania,Allegheny County,United States of America
Olympic Sport: Freestyle wrestling
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Wrestling at the 1996 Summer Olympics - Men's Freestyle Heavyweight
Weight: 105.0
Olympic Medalist Games: 1996 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 1996 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal
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Candace Parker
Women's basketball
Olympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1986-04-19
Place Of Birth: Naperville,United States of America,Illinois,DuPage County,Will County
Olympic Sport: Basketball
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women
Olympic Medalist Games: 2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal
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Amanda Beard
Women's 200m breaststroke, Women's 200m individual medley
Olympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1981-10-29
Place Of Birth: Newport Beach,United States of America,California,Orange County
Olympic Sport: Swimming
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 1996 Summer Olympics - Women's 200 metre breaststroke,Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's 200 metre breaststroke,Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's 200 metre Individual Medley,Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Women's 200 metre breaststroke,Swimming at the 1996 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metre breaststroke
Olympic Medalist Games: 1996 Summer Olympics,2004 Summer Olympics,2000 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2004 Summer Olympics,2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Silver medal,Gold medal,Bronze medal
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Allison Pottinger
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Rebecca Lobo
Women's basketball
Olympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1973-10-06
Place Of Birth: Hartford,United States of America,Connecticut,Hartford County
Olympic Sport: Basketball
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Basketball at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Women’s
Olympic Medalist Games: 1996 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 1996 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal
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Dara Torres
Women's 4x200m freestyle relay, Women's 4x100m freestyle relay
Olympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1967-04-15
Place Of Birth: Jupiter,United States of America,Florida,Palm Beach County
Olympic Sport: Swimming
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay,Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay,Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Women's 50 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metre butterfly
Olympic Medalist Games: 2008 Summer Olympics,2000 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 1992 Summer Olympics,2008 Summer Olympics,2000 Summer Olympics,1988 Summer Olympics,1984 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Silver medal,Bronze medal,Gold medal
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Bonnie Blair
Women's 1000m, Women's 500 m
Olympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1964-03-18
Place Of Birth: Cornwall,United States of America,New York,Orange County
Olympic Sport: Speed skating
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Speed Skating at the 1988 Winter Olympics - Women's 1000m,Speed skating at the 1992 Winter Olympics,Speed Skating at the 1994 Winter Olympics - Women's 500m,Speed Skating at the 1994 Winter Olympics - Women's 1000m,Speed Skating at the 1988 Winter Olympics - Women's 500m
Olympic Medalist Games: 1988 Winter Olympics,1992 Winter Olympics,1994 Winter Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 1992 Winter Olympics,1994 Winter Olympics,1988 Winter Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Bronze medal,Gold medal
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Bonnie Blair