Gators Shine in 2020 Olympics
8/9/2021
Gators combined to win 17 total Olympic medals, equaling the second-highest total for Florida in a single Olympics (21 in Los Angeles/1984; also 17 in London/2012).
Gators won the 17 medals in five different sports: baseball, soccer, swimming, softball, track & field (20 of the 21 medals won in 1984 were in the sport of swimming – the other in track & field)
Florida’s 17 medals (including U.S. and international student-athletes) stood No. 3 among all NCAA programs – No. 1 Stanford (26), No. 2 Southern Cal (21), No. 3 Florida (17), No. 4 UCLA (16), No. 5 California (13). Florida shared second with UCLA with 15 medals by TeamUSA athletes.
The 32 Gators competing were the third-most in a single Olympic Games (36 competed in Beijing/2008 and 35 in London/2012)
Florida was No. 5 among NCAA programs with 32 representatives and led the Southeastern Conference. 2020 Gator Olympians
Gators combined to win 17 total Olympic medals, equaling the second-highest total for Florida in a single Olympics (21 in Los Angeles/1984; also 17 in London/2012 )
Gators won the 17 medals in five different sports: baseball, soccer, swimming, softball, track & field (20 of the 21 medals won in 1984 were in the sport of swimming – the other in track & field)
Florida’s 17 medals (including U.S. and international student-athletes) stood No. 3 among all NCAA programs – No. 1 Stanford (26), No. 2 Southern Cal (21), No. 3 Florida (17), No. 4 UCLA (16), No. 5 California (13). Florida shared second with UCLA with 15 medals by TeamUSA athletes.
If the Gator Nation was a recognized country at the 2020 Olympic Games, it would have tied for 17th place in the total medal count, winning 17 medals (9 gold, 5 silver, 3 bronze).
The 32 Gators competing were the third-most in a single Olympic Games (36 competed in Beijing/2008 and 35 in London/2012)
Florida was No. 5 among NCAA programs with 32 representatives and led the Southeastern Conference.
Medals by NCAA Programs
USA & International Athletes
School | G | S | B | T | # of Athletes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford | 10 | 7 | 9 | 26 | 51 |
| Southern Cal | 11 | 5 | 5 | 21 | 61 |
| Florida | 9 | 5 | 3 | 17 | 32 |
| UCLA | 7 | 7 | 2 | 16 | 42 |
| California | 4 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 46 |
There were ?????? #TeamUSA collegiate medalists, who earned ?????? medals.
— Olympians Made Here (@omhpmh) August 8, 2021
Sincere thanks to the 170+ schools and 50+ conferences that helped over 460 ???? athletes' Olympic dreams come true.
With that, the FINAL #OlympiansMadeHere Leaderboard of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. pic.twitter.com/CAenDpguxD
Gator Medalists
The 17 medals claimed in the 2020 Olympics were earned by 12 Gators.
Swimming
- Caeleb Dressel’s five Olympic gold medals led all competitors at the 2020 Games (50 free, 100 free, 100 fly, 4x100 free relay, 4x100 medley relay). He was second in overall medals won, behind Australia swimmer Emma McKeon’s seven medals (four gold, three bronze) for total medals.
- Caeleb Dressel is the fifth U.S. athlete to win at least five golds in a single Games – speedskater Eric Heiden (1980); swimmers Mark Spitz (1972), Matt Biondi and Michael Phelps (2004, 2008, 2016).
- Caeleb Dressel is third U.S. male to win at least three individual golds in a single Olympics, joining Mark Spitz (1972) and Michael Phelps (2008).
- Fifth U.S. male to win at least five golds in a single Olympics, joining swimmers Mark Spitz (1972), Matt Biondi (1988), Michael Phelps (2004, 2008, 2016) and speed skater Eric Heiden (1980).
- Two world records set in 2020 Olympics included Caeleb Dressel – 100 fly (49.45) and 4x100 medley relay (3:26.78). His 100 fly split of 49.03 in the 4x100 medley relay also is a world record. Olympic records by Dressel include 50 free (21.07) and 100 free (47.02)
- Caeleb Dressel’s five 2020 medals is the most gold medals won by a Gator in a single Olympics. Three Gators have won five medals in a single Olympics
- Caeleb Dressel 5 golds 2020 Tokyo
- Ryan Lochte 2 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze 2012 London
- Dara Torres 2 golds, 3 bronze 2000 Sydney
- The most individual event golds won by a Gator in a single Olympics is three
- Caeleb Dressel: 2020 – 50 free, 100 free, 100 fly
- Two Gators won two golds in a single day
- Tracy Caulkins: Aug. 3, 1984 – 200 IM (8 p.m.), 4x100 medley relay (8:50 p.m.)
- Caeleb Dressel: Aug. 1, 2021 – 50 free (9:30 p.m.), 4x100 medley relay (10:36 p.m.)
Caeleb Dressel's Picture-Perfect Tokyo Olympics - Pat Forde/Sports Illustrated 8-1-21
26 American college athletes with remaining NCAA eligibility have won medals at the Tokyo Games. That will set them up nicely for new NIL money opportunities -- and under longer-standing NCAA rules, they are assured of $937,500 in prize money from USOPC alone.
— Steve Berkowitz (@ByBerkowitz) August 7, 2021
Among all 2020 Olympic medalists, there are 26 with remaining NCAA eligibility. Two of those are Gators – Bobby Finke (800 and 1500-meter free - golds) and Kieran Smith (400m free – bronze).
“I came in not really expecting to get a medal or anything — and I come out of it with two golds.”Bobby Finke following winning his second gold of 2020 Olympics (1.500-meter freestyle)
I FINKE. I CAN. @Robert_Finke takes GOLD in the first ever Olympic men's 800M freestyle in a THRILLER!
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 29, 2021
#TokyoOlympics x @TeamUSA
??: NBC
??: https://t.co/Sdse4JEfNh
??: NBC Sports App pic.twitter.com/OulFLF9tfY
Bobby Finke’s win in the 1,500m free was the first for the U.S. since 1984.
Bobby Finke was fourth after the final turn of the 800 meter before surging to win the gold in 7:41.87. He entered the Olympics with the 12th-best 800 free qualifying time (7:47.58). 2020 marked the first time the 800-meter free was contested at the Olympics since a similar distance (880-yards) was raced at the 1904 St. Louis Games.
Bobby Finke’s winning time of 14:39.65 in the 1,500 meters was 9.05 second faster than his top time in the distance this year.
The first 2020 Olympic medals by Gators were a pair of swimming bronze medals for Team USA: Kieran Smith (400m free) and Natalie Hinds (4x100m free relay)
Soccer
Canada entered the 2020 Olympics ranked No. 8 in the FIFA Women’s Team rankings and ended with the country’s first gold in the sport.
After playing to a 1-all double overtime tie with Sweden, the Olympic gold was decided for the first time by penalty kicks. Gator Deanne Rose hit her penalty kick in the fifth position as Canada claimed the gold on its next kick to take a 3-2 PK edge. Gator Adriana Leon also played in the gold medal final, entering the match at halftime.
Adriana Leon is an Olympic Gold Medallist ???? pic.twitter.com/uSr6IRGJHH
— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) August 6, 2021
Deanne Rose is an Olympic Gold Medallist ???? pic.twitter.com/273YvN7vip
— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) August 6, 2021
Softball
The Gators won their first-ever Olympic medals in the sport of softball (Michelle Moultrie, Aubree Munroe, Kelsey Stewart, Silver, July 27)
In softball’s first appearance at the Olympics since 2008, @TeamUSA earns silver. ??#TokyoOlympics x @USASoftballWNT pic.twitter.com/ZhvD4sXZXu
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 27, 2021
Track & Field
That was FAST.
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 5, 2021
Grant Holloway earns Silver in the men's 110m hurdles at the #TokyoOlympics! pic.twitter.com/NGlMr83gAx
Grant Holloway won silver in the 110-meter hurdles
Gators won their first-ever Olympic medal in a mixed event (Taylor Manson, USA 4x400 mixed relay, Bronze on July 31 (ran qualifying only on July 30)
Baseball
USA Baseball provided the Gators with their final medal of the 2020 Games, winning silver.
Gator Mark Kolozsvary started every game as catcher for Team USA.
Other Gator Olympic Notes
Three Gators served as flag bearers for 2020 Olympic Opening or Closing Ceremonies:
- Joseph Fahnbulleh (Liberia - opening)
- Brett Fraser (Cayman Islands - opening)
- Eddie Lovett (U.S. Virgin Islands - closing)
Two Gators were selected USA Team Captains: Caeleb Dressel (men’s swimming) and Will Claye (men’s track & field
The U.S. coaching staff has three with Gator ties:
Current Gator Head Coaches:
Michael Holloway: U.S. Men's Track & Field Head Coach
Anthony Nesty: U.S. Men's Swimming Assistant Coach
Past Gator Head Coach:
Gregg Troy: U.S. Men's Swimming Assistant Coach
2020 Gator Olympic Medalists
| Name | Sport | Event | Medal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caeleb Dressel | Swimming | U.S. 50 free | Gold |
| Caeleb Dressel | Swimming | U.S. 100 free | Gold |
| Caeleb Dressel | Swimming | U.S. 100 fly | Gold |
| Caeleb Dressel | Swimming | U.S. 4x100 free relay | Gold |
| Caeleb Dressel | Swimming | U.S. 4x100 MR | Gold |
| Bobby Finke | Swimming | U.S. 1500 free | Gold |
| Bobby Finke | Swimming | U.S. 800 free | Gold |
| Natalie Hinds | Swimming | U.S. 4x100 relay | Bronze |
| Grant Holloway | Track & Field | U.S. 110m hurdles | Silver |
| Mark Kolozsvary | Baseball | U.S. | Silver |
| Adriana Leon | Soccer | Canada | Gold |
| Taylor Manson | Track & Field | U.S. Mixed 4x400 relay | Bronze |
| Michelle Moultrie | Softball | U.S. | Silver |
| Aubree Munroe | Softball | U.S. | Silver |
| Deanne Rose | Soccer | Canada | Gold |
| Kieran Smith | Swimming | U.S. 400 free | Bronze |
| Kelsey Stewart | Softball | U.S. | Silver |
