Believe it or not, Olympians are just like the rest of us—minus the stacks of medals and world-class accolades. And yes, many of them go to college! You might be wondering how they manage to juggle intense training schedules, academic demands, social lives, and the occasional need for sleep. Our best answer? They’re Olympians for a reason! While we may not know the secret to their superhuman time management skills (yet!), we can tell you which colleges the 2024 U.S. Olympians attended and how many medals they brought home for the U.S.
The Colleges of the 2024 Olympians
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, athletes from 169 U.S. colleges (both former and current students) contributed to Team USA’s impressive haul of 126 medals. Here are 10 colleges whose athletes brought home the most medals:
1. STANFORD UNIVERSITY
Athletes in Paris: 59
- USA Sports Represented: Diving, Fencing, Golf, Gymnastics, Rowing, Swimming, Volleyball, Water Polo
- Notable Athletes: Jade Carey (Gymnastics), Katie Ledecky (Swimming), Brody Malone (Gymnastics), Jewel Roemer (Water Polo), Lauren Scruggs (Fencing)
- Medals Brought Home: 39
2. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA–BERKELEY
- Athletes in Paris: 13
- USA Sports Represented: Field Hockey, Golf, Rowing, Swimming, Water Polo
- Notable Athletes: Jack Alexy (Swimming), Ryan Murphy (Swimming), Abbey Weitzel (Swimming)
- Medals Brought Home: 23
3. UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
- Athletes in Paris: 30
- USA Sports Represented: Basketball, Diving, Golf, Rowing, Swimming, Volleyball
- Notable Athletes: Julien Alfred (Track & Field), Ryan Crouser (Shot Put), Kevin Durant (Basketball), Scottie Scheffler (Golf)
- Medals Brought Home: 16
4. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- Athletes in Paris: 67
- USA Sports Represented: Beach Volleyball, Track & Field, Swimming, Volleyball, Water Polo
- Notable Athletes: Rai Benjamin (Track & Field, formerly UCLA), Anna Cockrell (Track & Field)
- Medals Brought Home: 15
5. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA–LOS ANGELES
- Athletes in Paris: 40
- USA Sports Represented: Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Golf, Gymnastics, Track & Field, Rugby, Volleyball, Water Polo
- Notable Athletes: Jordan Chiles (Gymnastics), Chase Dodd (Water Polo)
- Medals Brought Home: 14
6. UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
- Athletes in Paris: 15
- USA Sports Represented: Swimming, Tennis, Track & Field
- Notable Athletes: Kate Douglass (Swimming), Gretchen Walsh (Swimming)
- Medals Brought Home: 14
7. PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
- Athletes in Paris: 30
- USA Sports Represented: Fencing, Field Hockey, Gymnastics, Rugby, Soccer, Volleyball, Wrestling
- Notable Athletes: Joe Kovacs (Track & Field), Alyssa Naeher (Soccer), Stephen Nedoroscik (Gymnastics)
- Medals Brought Home: 14
8. HARVARD UNIVERSITY
- Athletes in Paris: 26
- USA Sports Represented: Cycling, Fencing, Rowing, Track & Field
- Notable Athletes: Kristin Faulkner (Cycling), Lauren Scruggs (Fencing), Gabby Thomas (Track & Field)
- Medals Brought Home: 13
9. UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
- Athletes in Paris: 41
- USA Sports Represented: Basketball, Tennis, Track & Field, Swimming
- Notable Athletes: Caeleb Dressel (Swimming), Bobby Finke (Swimming), Grant Holloway (Track & Field)
- Medals Brought Home: 11
10. TEXAS A&M
- Athletes in Paris: 21
- USA Sports Represented: Archery, Cycling, Tennis, Track & Field, Swimming
- Notable Athletes: Bryce Deadmon (Track & Field), Austin Krajicek (Tennis), Joni Taylor (Basketball)
- Medals Brought Home: 8
How Olympians Choose their Colleges
When Olympians choose a college, their decision is based on more than just academics. Here are a few things to factor in as a student who is training for the Olympics:
- Location: Many athletes hope to be close to top training centers that have everything they need to perform their best. It helps if the school’s athletic facility meets these standards.
- Academics: A school with a strong focus on academics can set them up for a successful career after sports.
- Support: Athletes tend to look for a school with a dedicated coaching staff and athlete-focused resources.
Scholarships and Financial Aid for Aspiring Olympians
There are great financial aid opportunities available for Olympians including grants and scholarships. For example, the United States Olympic Committee helps current Olympians pursue education through Team USA Tuition Grants. With this scholarship, any member of Team USA can apply for up to $4,500 to go towards their schooling. There are also more specific scholarships they can apply to, such as the yearly Race to Inspire Scholarship for track and field.
Olympians may be chasing gold, silver, and bronze, but they’re also juggling classes, catching up with friends, and trying to get enough sleep—just like any other college student. Whether your dream is to stand on the Olympic podium or simply cheer for your school’s athletes, we all come together to celebrate the red, white, and blue. Go Team USA!
Just like Olympians choose colleges that align with their ambitions, you can do the same—use College Raptor’s College Match tool to find your perfect fit.
