The Columbia University Athletes Who Have Medaled at the Olympics Over the Years

As we approach the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics and get ready to cheer on our Columbia athletes competing this year, we're gearing ourselves up to go for the gold. We've looked back into the archives to learn more about the legacy of our Olympic and Paralympic champions. 

Columbia Athletics also has a comprehensive list of student-athletes who medaled at the Olympics and competed at Columbia in a Varsity sport. 

Below, find the 26 Columbia students (plus, a Columbia coach!) who have medaled at the Olympic Games from 1896 to 2024, garnering a total of 43 medals (20 gold, 13 silver, 10 bronze) and how they looked at the games when they competed. In 2024, we've already added one new Olympian to the list — and we hope there will be more. 

Let's go, #LionsOlympians!

1896: Thomas Curtis, Track & Field

• Gold Medal, Hurdles

1900: Maxwell Long, Track & Field

• Gold Medal, 400M

1904: Charles Fitzhugh Townsend, Fencing

• Silver Medal, Team Foil

1904: Robert Leroy, Tennis

• Silver Medal, Singles Tennis

• Silver Medal, Doubles Tennis

1912: Harry Babcock, Track & Field

• Gold Medal, Pole Vault

1920: Nat Pendleton, Wrestling

• Silver Medal, Heavyweight Wrestling

1924: Francis Hussey, Track & Field

• Gold Medal, 4x100M Relay

1924: Benjamin Spock, Rowing

• Gold Medal, Coxed Eights

1932: Hugh Alessandroni, Fencing

• Bronze Medal, Team Foil

1948: Norman Armitage, Fencing

• Bronze Medal, Team Sabre

1968: Stephen Rerych, Swimming

• Gold Medal, 4x100M Freestyle Relay

• Gold Medal, 4x200M Freestyle Relay

1992, 1996, 2000, 2004: Jenny Thompson, Swimming

• 8 Gold Medals, 4x100M Freestyle Relay (3), 4x200M Freestyle Relay (2), 4x100M Medley Relay (3)

• 3 Silver Medals, 100M Freestyle, 4x100M Freestyle Relay, 4x100M Medley Relay

• 1 Bronze Medal, 100M Freestyle

1992: Trent Dimas, Gymnastics

• Gold Medal, Horizontal Bar

1996 & 2000: Cristina Teuscher, Swimming

• Gold Medal, 4x200M Freestyle Relay (1996)

• Bronze Medal, 200M Individual Medley (2000)

2002: Timothy Goebel, Figure Skating

• Bronze Medal

2004, 2008, 2012: Caryn Davies, Rowing

• Silver Medal, Women's Eight (2004)

• Gold Medal, Women's Eight (2008)

• Gold Medal, Women's Eight (2012)

2004: Lauren McFall Gardner, Synchronized Swimming

• Bronze Medal

2004: Kendra Zanotto, Synchronized Swimming

• Bronze Medal

2006: Sasha Cohen, Figure Skating

• Silver Medal

2008: Erinn Smart, Fencing

• Silver Medal, Team Foil

2008: Keeth Smart, Fencing

• Silver Medal, Team Sabre

2008: James Williams, Fencing

• Silver Medal, Team Sabre

2012: Maya Lawrence, Fencing

• Bronze Medal, Team Épée

2016: Katie Meili, Swimming

• Gold Medal, 4x100M Medley Relay

• Bronze Medal, 100M Breaststroke

2020: John Tanguay, Paralympic Rowing

• Silver Medal, PR3 Mixed Four with Coxswain

2024: Jackie Dubrovich, Fencing

• Gold Medal, Team Foil

Bonus—1992: Columbia Diving Coach Scott Donie, Diving

• Silver Medal, Platform