Over 75% of the entire 2020 Team USA Olympic roster participated in some level of college sports. This should not be too much of a surprise given that most professional athletes in America go through the Collegiate sports system.
Playing in college is a crucial stage of the development process for professional athletes whether or not they earn the right to compete as Olympians.
Here are the 8 schools that will be sent the most athletes to Tokyo:
University of Oregon - 11 Athletes
- Events: Baseball, Softball, and Track & Field
"Just being out there and being able to medal, it's a really big deal. I think it's settling in. Just being able to take something back home...I'm really proud."
— oregontf (@OregonTF) August 4, 2021
🗣 @TheROYALlife21
Olympic bronze medalist#GoDucks #OlympiansMadeHere
📸 @GettySport pic.twitter.com/KMmm35DRyI
Micah Williams and Cravon Gillespie will represent the Ducks on the track as key members of Team USA. Williams is the reigning National Indoor Champion with an official 60-meter time of 6.49 seconds.
University of Florida - 14 Athletes
- Events: Basketball, Swimming, Track & Field, Baseball, and Softball
Dubbed as the closest thing to Michael Phelps since the legendary swimmer himself, Caleb Dressel is set to make headlines in Tokyo and make Gainsville proud. Dressel is favored in 6 separate events.
University of Georgia - 15 Athletes
- Events: Track & Field, and Swimming
Eight-time Olympic medalist, including 4 gold medals, Allison Schmitt will be representing the Bulldogs in her 4th Olympics.
University of Southern California - 16 Athletes
- Events: Beach Volleyball, Swimming, Volleyball, Track & Field, and Water Polo
After helping the USC Women’s Water Polo team to the 2021 National Championship, Maud Megens will be leading the Netherlands Women's Water Polo team as they look to win gold in Tokyo.
Track Starr Isaiah Jewett finished second in the 800-meter Olympic qualifier earning him a spot on Team USA. He also highlighted the struggles of student-athletes by professing he had a 10-page paper due midnight of the same day after not getting an extension from his professor.
University of California at Berkeley - 16 Athletes
- Events: Water Polo, Rowing, Soccer, Golf, Rugby, Table Tennis, Softball, and Swimming
Collin Morikawa is only the 8th golfer in history to secure 2 major tournament wins before turning 25 years old. He looks to add to his already impressive collection of trophies a medal from Tokyo.
Stephanie Au qualified for her first Olympics in 2008 at the young age of 16, she will be competing in the Olympics for her 4th time this year.
University of Texas - 16 Athletes
- Events: Swimming, Diving, Rowing, Softball, Volleyball, Basketball, and Track & Field
Considered by many as the best Basketball player in the world, Kevin Durant will be leading Team USA Basketball as they look to capture yet another Gold Medal.
Star Men’s Diver Jordan Windle was left at an orphanage in Cambodia as an infant. Since then he has overcome countless adversities to become an Olympic diver.
University of California at Los Angeles - 21 Athletes
- Events: Basketball, Baseball, Tennis, Volleyball, Beach Volleyball, Water Polo, Soccer, and Gymnastics
Fresh off winning his 1st NBA Championship with the Milwaukee Bucks, Jrue Holiday will look to double up with a Gold medal in Tokyo.
Jordan Chiles had all but quit Gymnastics 3 years ago. That was until her teammate, Simone Biles, convinced her that she belonged on the team. Now the incoming UCLA Freshman will be competing in her first-ever Olympic games.
Stanford University - 32 Athletes
- Events: Swimming, artistic swimming, water polo, sailing, rowing, beach volleyball, volleyball, gymnastics, cycling, soccer, fencing, track & field
Anyone who has been watching Olympic sports for the past 10 years has heard the name Katie Ledecky. The Swimming phenom has been dominating the lanes for Team USA and looks to continue her streak of excellence this year in Tokyo.
