Here Are Ten Team USA Olympic Legends You Probably Forgot About

The 2024 Summer Olympics are well underway in Paris, France, and members of Team USA are making names for themselves. Here are ten former Team USA stars who made Americans proud.

Every four years, America cheers hard for Team USA Athletes in the Summer Olympics, and a new crop of athletes become legends. Since many of these athletes play sports that are often not in the traditional sports landscape, their stars can burn bright and then be forgotten.

These ten Team USA Summer Olympics Legends are athletes that you might have forgotten about, but will remember as soon as you hear their names.

Dara Torres - Swimming, 1984,1988, 1992, 2000 2008

Before Katie Ledecky, Dara Torres had a serious claim as the best Team USA Women’s swimmer of all-time. The 12-time Olympic medalist won medals at all five games she participated in, including in comeback appearances in 2000 and 2008. Her exceptional two-medal performance in Beijing in 2008 at the age of 41 is the stuff of legends.

Jason Lezak - Swimming, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012

Jason Lezak Participated in an impressive four Olympics and tallied an even more impressive eight total medals, including four golds. But, he’s most famous for his role in one of the biggest Team USA Olympic moments of all-time. With Michael Phelps early in his quest for an unprecedented eight golds in eight events at Beijing 2008, Lezak caught and passed French superstar Alain Bernard in the final leg of the Men’s 4×100 Meter Freestyle Relay when it looked like all hope was lost. Lezak out-touched Bernard at the wall, winning the USA, and Phelps, a gold medal. Phelps would go on to make history, and Jason Lezak will be forever remembered for the greatest relay leg in American history.

 

Carly Patterson - Artistic Gymnastics - 2004

Heading into the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens Greece, only Mary Lou Retton in 1984 had ever won an Olympic All-Around title in Women’s Gymnastics for the USA. But, Carly Patterson, a relatively unknown Texan in the sports world, broke through to upset a heavily favored Russian gymnast and take the crown. The United States still wears that crown today, as she is the first of six consecutive Women’s All-Around wins for Team USA, including Simone Biles’ triumph in Paris.

Amy Van Dyken - Swimming, 1996, 2000

Amy Van Dyken made history at Atlanta 96, becoming the first American woman to win four Swimming gold medals in the same Olympics. She backed that performance up at Sydney 2000 with two more golds, giving her six in total.

Van Dyken was paralyzed from the waist down in an ATV accident in 2014.

Maurice Greene -Track and Field, 2000, 2004

Maurice Green is one of the all-time greats in a long line of illustrious American sprinters. The former 100 Meter world record holder took gold in the race at Sydney 2000, winning him the title of World’s Fastest Man. He ended his Olympic career with four total medals.

Rulon Gardner - Wrestling, 2000

There was not a more unbeatable figure in the history of sports, arguably, than Russian Greco-Roman wrestler Alexander Karelin. That is, until Rulon Garnder ruined a thirteen year unbeaten streak with one of the biggest upsets in sports history in the Olympic Final at Sydney 2000. Karelin finished 887-2, and Rulon Gardner will be forever remembered as the man who ended his career with a loss

Kim Rhode - Shooting, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016

Kim Rhode was a phenomenal shooting athlete for the United States. She won medals on an astounding five continents, and finished her Olympic career with six total medals, including three golds.

Peter Vidmar -Artistic Gymnastics, 1980, 1984

While the USA boycotted Moscow 1980, the USOC still recognized those slated to attend the games as Olympians. When he finally got the chance to compete at the Olympics in 1984, Vidmar made sure it counted. He was a huge part of the gold medal win in the Team Finals, and added a gold on Pommel Horse along with a silver in the All-Around.

Kristin Armstrong - Cycling, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016

Kristen Armstrong reached cycling immortality when she brought home the gold in the Time Trial in three straight Olympics in 2008, 2012, and 2016. She is the most decorated women’s cyclist in Team USA Olympic history.

Nathan Adrian - Swimming, 2008, 2012, 2016

In an era of American swimming dominated by Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte, Adrian was a steady force. He finished his Olympic career with eight medals in total, including five golds. Four of them were as part of a relay team, but he did capture the 100M Freestyle at London 2012. USA Swimming was simply so good at the time that a guy who won eight total medals got overshadowed.