The Columbia University Athletes Who Have Medaled at the Olympics Over the Years
Twenty-three Columbians have won 39 Olympic medals, stretching from 1896 to 2016. Here's a look back at our Lion winners.
By
Kelly Moffitt and Jennifer Pellerito
July 14, 2021

Francis Hussey, Cristina Teuscher, Robert Leroy, and Erinn Smart.
As we approach the Tokyo Olympics 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 Columbia Athletics archives to learn more about the legacy of our Olympic champions.
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Below, find the eleven Columbia student-athletes who have medaled at the Olympic Games from 1896 to 2016, garnering a total of 14 medals (five gold, five silver, four bronze) and how they looked at the games when they competed. Hopefully, this year, we'll add even more athletes to our list. Let's go, #LionOlympians!
1896: Thomas Curtis, Track & Field

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Gold Medal, Hurdles
1900: Maxwell Long, Track & Field

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Gold Medal, 400M
1904: Charles Fitzhugh Townsend, Fencing

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Silver Medal, Team Foil
1904: Robert Leroy, Tennis

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Silver Medal, Singles Tennis
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Silver Medal, Doubles Tennis
1912: Harry Babcock, Track & Field

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Gold Medal, Pole Vault
1920: Nat Pendleton, Wrestling

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Silver Medal, Heavyweight Wrestling
1924: Francis Hussey, Track & Field

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Gold Medal, 4x100 Relay
1932: Hugh Alessandroni, Fencing

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Bronze Medal, Team Foil
1948: Norman Armitage, Fencing

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Bronze Medal, Team Sabre
1992, 1996, 2000, 2004: Jenny Thompson, Swimming & Diving

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8 Gold Medals, 4x100M Freestyle Relay (5), 3x100M Medley Relay (3)
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3 Silver Medals, 100M Freestyle, 4x100M Freestyle Relay, 3x100 Medley Relay
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1 Bronze Medal, 100M Freestyle
1992: Trent Dimas, Gymnastics

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Gold Medal, Horizontal Bar
1996 & 2000: Cristina Teuscher, Swimming & Diving

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Gold Medal, 4x200 Freestyle Relay (1996)
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Bronze Medal, 200 Individual Medley (2000)
2002: Timothy Goebel, Figure Skating

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Bronze Medal
2004, 2008, 2012: Caryn Davies, Rowing

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Silver Medal, Women's Eight (2004)
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Gold Medal, Women's Eight (2008)
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Gold Medal, Women's Eight (2012)
2004: Lauren McFall Gardner, Synchronized Swimming

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Bronze Medal
2004: Kendra Zanotto, Synchronized Swimming

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Bronze Medal
2006: Sasha Cohen, Figure Skating

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Silver Medal
2008: Erinn Smart, Fencing

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Silver Medal, Team Foil
2008: Keeth Smart, Fencing

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Silver Medal, Team Sabre
2008: James Williams, Fencing

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Silver Medal, Team Sabre
2012: Maya Lawrence, Fencing

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Bronze Medal, Team Épée
2016: Katie Meili, Swimming & Diving

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Gold Medal, 4x100 Medley Relay
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Bronze Medal, 100-Meter Breaststroke
2020: John Tanguay, Paralympic Rowing

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Silver Medal, PR3 Mixed Four with Coxswain