Team USA is off to a great start at the Rio Games. On the women’s team, Katie Ledecky managed a record-breaking time in the 400-meter freestyle final, netting her the gold, and Leah Smith came in third, earning a bronze. Meanwhile on the men’s team, Adam Peaty took the gold in the 100-meter breaststroke, while Cody Miller netted the bronze in the same event.
But what about the man himself, Michael Phelps? Well, Mr. Phelps and the rest of the men’s 4×100 relay team managed to score a gold. Although Phelp’s performance was jaw-dropping, Nathan Adrian, Caeleb Dressel, and Ryan Held also gave an admirable performance.
Here’s a look at the final results for the top three teams:
United States – 3:09.92
France – 3:10.53
Australia – 3:11.37
That relay made for Michael Phelps 23rd olympic medal and his 19th gold. Both of which are world records.
Michael Phelps >CNN.com
In honor of this fortuitous start to the olympics, here’s a look at the US Swimming Team’s 5 Biggest Gold Medal Years. I pulled the below information by poring over the info available on the US Swimming Team’s Official Site.
1968 – Mexico City, Mexico
Total Gold Medals: 21
MVP: Charlie Hickcox and Debbie Meyer
This 1968 the US Swimming Team, dominated in the water. With over 468 participants from 51 countries competing, the US managed to score 52 of 87 medals. Critical to this were the efforts of Charlie Hickcox and Debbie Myer. Hickcox scored one Olympic Record (OR) on his own and One World Record with the 4x100m medley relay. Debbie Meyer scored three ORs in individual events. Other noteworthy swimmers include Mike Burton, a younger Mark Spitz, and Claudia Kolb.
1984 – Los Angeles, California
Total Gold Medals: 20
MVP: Everyone?
In the titular novel, 1984 was pretty bad year for humanity. In reality, 1984 was an amazing year for the US Olympic Swimming Team. In previous years, countries were allowed three swimmers per event, but to prevent another situation like 1968, this changed to two swimmers per event. It’s hard to pick out one or two MVPs, as a number of swimmers delivered out of this world performances in the 1984 games. Rick Carey, George DiCarlo, Rowdy Gaines, Mike O’Brien, Steve Lundquist all helped the US Men’s team dominate. On the women’s team Carrie Steinseifer, Nancy Hogshead, Tiffany Cohen, Marry T. Meagher, and Tracy Caulkins did the same.
1972 – Munich, West Germany
Total Gold Medals: 17
MVP: Mark Spitz and Melissa Belote
In 1972, Mark Spitz set the record for holding 7 world records in a single Olympic meet. It wasn’t until 2008 that Michael Phelps broke this. On the women’s team, Melissa Belote scored an WR for the 200m backstroke and for the 4x100m medley relay, in addition to an OR for 100m backstroke. For sheer cool factor, the Olympic record was broken at least once in all 29 events and in 20 of those events a new world record was set.
2000 – Sydney, Australia
Total Gold Medals: 14
MVP: Lenny Krayzelburg and Megan Quann
2000 saw the expansion of the swimming program with the addition of the semifinal phase for most events. In the face of these changes, Lenny Krayzelburg rose to the top with two ORs in individual events and one WR for the 4x100m medley relay, while Megan Quann scored an AM for the 100m breaststroke and a WR for the 4x100m medley relay.
1996 – Atlanta, United States
Total Gold Medals: 13
MVP: Amy Van Dyken and Josh Davis
The 1996 Olympics, the US Swimming Team really brought their relay game. Amy Van Dykyen managed to hold down two solo events and totally crushed it in two relay events. On the men’s team, Josh Davis managed to lend a major assist in three relay events.
1976 – Montreal, Canada
Total Gold Medals: 13
MVP: The whole men’s team and Shirley Babashoff
Most years, both the men’s and the women’s team totally kill it. 1976 was a different story. While the men’s team nearly swept their events (they only needed one more event to do so), the women’s team struggled to compete against the East Germany swimming machine which nearly swept their events (they only needed two more to do so). Still the women’s team managed to set a WR in the 4x100m freestyle relay. Shirley Babashoff netted four silvers and lent a major assist the women’s team in gold-winning relay. Across the board, the men’s team did pretty outstanding. John Hencken, John Naber, Brian Goodell, Bruce Furniss, Jim Montgomery, Mike Bruner, and Matt Vogel all are worth mentioning.
As you can see, the US swimming team has a pretty stellar track record when it comes to the Olympics. Will 2016 stand as another record-breaking year?
Think swimming is cool? So do I. Check out my piece on Why Swimming Is Important.
Me with the Loomis Chaffee Swimming Team
Feeling nostalgic about the awesomeness that is Michael Phelps? Check out my post on him winning his 19th Gold Medal.