This summer, 594 American athletes arrived in Paris to compete in the Olympics, the highest number from any country. Remarkably, 340 of them, or 57%, are making their Olympic debut. Let’s dive into the details of this diverse and talented group.
A Strong Showing from the Golden State
California leads the pack, with more than one in five Team USA athletes hailing from the state. A total of 122 athletes call California home, nearly three times as many as the next state, Florida, which has 43 representatives. Other states with significant representation include Texas (41), Colorado (27), Illinois (27), Pennsylvania (27), New York (23), and New Jersey (21).
Interestingly, only four states, along with Washington D.C., have no representatives on the team: Maine, North Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Team USA: By the Numbers
- Youngest Olympians: Team USA boasts 32 teenage athletes, with the youngest being gymnast Hezly Rivera, who just turned 16. Other 16-year-olds include skateboarder Paige Heyn and sprinter Quincy Wilson.
- Oldest Olympians: Equestrian Steffen Peters, at 59, is the oldest American Summer Olympian since 1936. Not far behind is fellow equestrian Laura Kraut, who is 58.
- Most Appearances: Peters, along with equestrian McLain Ward and basketball star Diana Taurasi, are competing in their sixth Olympics.
- Sports Represented: American athletes are competing in 31 of the 32 sports in Paris, with handball being the only exception. Track and field has the highest number of athletes (120), followed by swimming (48).
- Gender Representation: For the fourth consecutive Summer Games, Team USA has more women (315) than men (279).
- Family Affair: The team includes six sets of siblings, showcasing the strong family ties in sports. Notably, identical twins Annie and Kerry Xu are badminton doubles partners. The other sibling pairs are:
- Water polo: Chase and Ryder Dodd
- Swimming: Alex and Gretchen Walsh
- Swimming: Aaron and Alex Shackell
- Field hockey: Brooke and Emma DeBerdine
- Track and field: Juliette and Isabella Whittaker
As these athletes compete on the world stage, they carry the hopes and dreams of their states and families, showcasing the incredible diversity and talent that make up Team USA.