Minnesota athletes have a long history of success at the Olympics, with 132 Minnesota-born athletes winning a total of 62 medals since the 1900 Paris Games. Despite a decrease in the number of Minnesota athletes on the U.S. Olympic team this year, the state’s representation remains significant. Notable performances from Minnesota-born athletes include swimmer Michael Andrew setting an Olympic record in Tokyo and Suni Lee and Regan Smith each winning three medals as first-time Olympians in 2021.
Minnesota athletes have excelled in a variety of sports, with track and field, wrestling, and swimming being popular among competitors. In track and field, Minnesota-born athletes have earned five medals with Alvin Kraenzlein being the first to win an Olympic medal and four golds. Olympic wrestling in Minnesota dates back to 1920, with 20 athletes competing in the sport. In swimming, half of the ten Minnesota-born athletes competing have won a total of nine medals.
The state has also become a hub for elite gymnasts, producing athletes like Suni Lee, Grace McCallum, and Shane Wiskus. Lee and McCallum brought home four medals from Tokyo, and Lee is returning for her second Olympics in Paris. Some sports have been short-lived at the Summer Olympics, with men’s ice hockey being introduced in 1920 and subsequently moved to the Winter Games. Recent additions like Rugby Sevens and Sport Climbing have created new opportunities for Minnesota athletes to compete on the Olympic stage.
Both the Lynx and Timberwolves have contributed basketball talents to the Olympics, with coach Cheryl Reeve leading the U.S. women’s national team this year. Additionally, the University of Minnesota has played a significant role in producing athletes for the Summer Olympics, with 55 Gophers athletes representing 17 countries and winning a total of 22 medals since 1924.
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