Team USA's Collegiate Impact

The student-athlete experience in college has always played an invaluable role in Team USA athlete development. Sports on campus and on the world’s stage provide a unique opportunity for athletes to learn, grow and compete as they shape their goals and dreams, in both sport and life. At the 2024 Paris Games, 75% of the U.S. Olympic Team and 53% of the U.S. Paralympic Team competed collegiately on their journey to Team USA.

The USOPC defines student-athlete as any individual on Team USA who is or was a member of a collegiate roster – varsity, club or other – and/or who competed in outside competition for a college or university. Student-athletes impacted by transfer circumstances are credited for attending each institution.

Learn more about Team USA’s collegiate footprint in past Olympic & Paralympic Games by visiting the microsites below.

Please the following database to search the all-time list of U.S. Olympians and Paralympians and filter to identify Olympians and Paralympians who attended and/or competed in college. The collegiate ties noted within the database were validated by at least two sources, and we are continuing to verify our data. We welcome information on collegiate ties that is missing or needs updating - please email OlympiansMadeHere@usopc.org.

^Indicates collegiate data was confirmed by less than two sources. *Indicates athlete was named to the 1980 Olympic Team; please note the U.S. did not go on to compete in the 1980 Games.