Florida Gators Olympic History

Gator Student-Athletes Year-by-Year at the Olympic Games

Year Site UF Athletes Countries Represented Sports Medals Won Gold Silver Bronze
1972 Munich 3 1 3 2 0 2 0
1976 Montreal 13 7 3 1 0 1 0
1980 Moscow 12 6 2 1 0 0 1
1984 Los Angeles 28 10 5 20 13 5 2
1988 Seoul 23 7 5 14 5 4 5
1992 Barcelona 27 7 4 15 9 1 5
1992 Albertville (W) 2 1 1 0 0 0 0
1994 Lillehammer (W) 2 1 1 0 0 0 0
1996 Atlanta 30 11 5 6 1 4 1
1998 Nagano (W) 2 1 1 0 0 0 0
2000 Sydney 21 12 7 11 7 0 4
2002 Salt Lake City (W) 2 1 1 0 0 0 0
2004 Athens 25 12 5 7 4 2 1
2006 Torino (W) 1 1 1 0 0 0 0
2008 Beijing 37 19 7 17 7 6 4
2010 Vancouver (W) 1 1 1 1 1 0 0
2012 London 35 17 5 17 6 6 5
2016 Rio 30 16 4 14 8 3 3
2020     Tokyo 33 16 8 19 9 7 3
2024 Paris 39 20 8 11 4 4 3
Total 374 appearances
(236 Gators)		 52 14 156    74 45 37
Summer Games only 371 52 13 155 73 45 37
Winter Games only 3 2 1 1 1 0 0
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*includes four USA athletes and one Canadian athlete who did not compete due to the boycott

Gator Career Olympic Medal Winners, All-Time Top-10

Gator Country Sport Total Olympics Total Medals Gold Silver Bronze
Ryan Lochte USA Swimming 4 12 6 3 3
Dara Torres USA Swimming 5 12 4 4 4
Caeleb Dressel USA Swimming 3 10 9 1 0
Bobby Finke USA Swiimming 2 4 3 1 0
Mike Heath USA Swimming 1 4 3 1 0
Mary Wayte USA Swimming 2 4 2 1 1
Novlene Williams-Mills Jamaica Track & Field 4 4 0 1 3
Tracy Caulkins USA Swimming 2 3 3 0 0
Will Claye USA Track & Field 2 3 0 2 1
Kerron Clement USA Track & Field 3 3 2 1 0
Conor Dwyer USA Swimming 2 3 2 0 1
Nicole Haislett USA Swimming 1 3 3 0 0
Whitney Hedgepeth USA Swimming 2 3 1 2 0
Tim McKee USA Swimming 2 3 0 3 0
Dennis Mitchell USA Track & Field 3 3 1 1 1
Heather Mitts USA Soccer 3 3 3 0 0
Mark Stockwell Australia Swimming 1 3 0 2 1
Ashley Tappin USA Swimming 2 3 3 0 0

Most Olympic Medals Won by a Gator in one Olympiad

Gator Country Sport Games Total Medals Gold Silver Bronze
Caeleb Dressel USA Swimming 2020 Tokyo 5 5 0 0
Dara Torres USA Swimming 2000 Sydney 5 2 0 3
Ryan Lochte USA Swimming 2012 London 5 2 2 1
Mike Heath USA Swimming 1984 Los Angeles 4 3 1 0
Ryan Lochte USA Swimming 2008 Beijing 4 2 0 2
Tracy Caulkins USA Swimming 1984 Los Angeles 3 3 0 0
Caeleb Dressel USA Swimming 2024 Paris 3 2 1 0
Nicole Haislett USA Swimming 1992 Barcelona 3 3 0 0
Whitney Hedgepeth USA Swimming 1996 Atlanta 3 1 2 0
Dara Torres USA Swimming 2008 Beijing 3 0 3 0
Mark Stockwell Australia Swimming 1984 Los Angeles 3 0 2 1

All-Time Gator Olympians, Ranked by Numbers of Olympic Games Participated (top-10)

Rank First Last Country Sport Numbers of Olympic Games
T-1 Liston Bochette Puerto Rico Bobsled, Track 5
T-1 Dara Torres USA Swimming 5
T-3 Genevieve LaCaze Gregson Australia Track & Field 4
T-3 Ryan Lochte USA Swimming 4
T-3 Ricardo Monasterio Venezuela Swimming 4
T-3 Novlene Williams-Mills Jamaica Track & Field 4
T-7 Bradley Ally Barbados Swimming 3
T-7 John Amabile Puerto Rico Bobsled 3
T-7 Jose Ballester Spain Swimming 3
T-7 Elizabeth Beisel USA Swimming 3
T-7 Hazel Clark USA Track & Field 3
T-7 Will Claye USA Track & Field 3
T-7 Kerron Clement USA Track & Field 3
T-7 Melani Costa-Schmid Spain Swimming 3
T-7 Caeleb Dressel USA Swimming 3
T-7 Mark Everett USA Track & Field 3
T-7 Brett Fraser Cayman Island Swimming 3
T-7 Michelle Freeman Jamaica Track & Field 3
T-7 Jill Hetherington Canada Tennis 3
T-7 Bryan Kim South Korea Swimming 3
T-7 Genevieve LaCaze Gregson Australia Track & Field 3
T-7 Alex Lopez Puerto Rico Swimming 3
T-7 Steve Mesler USA Bobsled 3
T-7 Dennis Mitchell USA Track & Field 3
T-7 Heather Mitts USA Soccer 3
T-7 Anthony Nesty Suriname Swimming 3
T-7 Omar Pinzon Colombia Swimming 3
T-7 Colleen Rosensteel USA Judo 3
T-7 Sebastien Rousseau South Africa Swimming 3
T-7 Chris Snode Great Britain Swimming 3
T-7 David Zubero Spain Swimming 3
T-7 Martin Zubero Spain Swimming 3

Total Medals Won by Gator Letterwinners, by Olympiad

Year Site UF Athletes Countries Represented Sports Medals Won Gold Silver Bronze
1984 Los Angeles 29 10 5 20 13 5 2
2020 Tokyo 33 16 8 19 9 7 3
2012 London 35 17 5 17 6 6 5
2008 Beijing 37 19 7 17 7 6 4
1992 Barcelona 27 7 4 15 9 1 5
1988 Seoul 23 7 5 14 5 4 5
2016 Rio 30 16 4 14 8 3 3
2024 Paris 39 20 8 11 4 4 3
2000 Sydney 21 12 7 11 7 0 4
2004 Athens 25 12 5 7 4 2 1
1996 Atlanta 30 11 5 6 1 4 1
1972 Munich 3 1 3 2 0 2 0
2010 Vancouver (W) 1 1 1 1 1 0 0
1980 Moscow 12* 6 2 1 0 0 1
1976 Montreal 12 7 3 1 0 1 0
2006 Torino (W) 1 1 1 0 0 0 0
2002 Salt Lake City (W) 2 1 1 0 0 0 0
1998 Nagano (W) 2 1 1 0 0 0 0
1994 Lillehammer (W) 2 1 1 0 0 0 0
1992 Albertville (W) 2 1 1 0 0 0 0
Total 374 appearances
(236 Gators)		 52 14 156 74 45 37
Summer Games only 371 Gators 59 11 155 73 45 37
Winter Games only 3 Gators 2 1 1 1 0 0
 

Total Gator Letterwinners at the Olympics, by Games

Year Site UF Athletes Countries Represented Sports Medals Won Gold Silver Bronze
2024 Paris 39 20 8 11 4 4 3
2008 Beijing 40 19 7 17 7 6 4
2020 Tokyo 38 16 8 19 9 7 3
2012 London 36 17 5 17 6 6 5
2016 Rio 31 16 4 14 8 3 3
1996 Atlanta 30 11 5 6 1 4 1
1984 Los Angeles 29 10 5 20 13 5 2
1992 Barcelona 27 7 4 15 9 1 5
2004 Athens 30 12 5 7 4 2 1
1988 Seoul 23 7 5 15 5 4 6
2000 Sydney 21 12 7 11 7 0 4
1980 Moscow 13 6 2 1 0 0 1
1976 Montreal 13 7 3 1 0 1 0
1972 Munich 4 1 3 2 0 2 0
2002 Salt Lake City (W) 2 1 1 0 0 0 0
1998 Nagano (W) 2 1 1 0 0 0 0
1994 Lillehammer (W) 2 1 1 0 0 0 0
1992 Albertville (W) 2 1 1 0 0 0 0
2010 Vancouver (W) 1 1 1 1 1 0 0
2006 Torino (W) 1 1 1 0 0 0 0
Total 374 appearances
(236 Gators)		 40 14 156 74 45 37
Summer Games only 235 Gators 38 11 155 73 45 37
Winter Games only 3 Gators 2 1 1 1 0 0

Special Notes about Gators in Different Olympiads

1 Gator has competed in BOTH the Summer and Winter Games (Liston Bochette: 1984 Summer Games - Track & Field; 1992, 1994, 1998, 2002 Winter Games - Bobsled)

9 Gator Flag Bearers:

  • Bradley Alley (UF: 2005-09): 2008 Barbados (Opening Ceremonies)
  • Liston Bochette (UF: 1977-80): 1992 Albertville
  • Joseph Fahnbulleh (UF: 2019-20): 2020 Tokyo (Opening Ceremonies)
  • Brett Fraser (UF: 2007-11):  2020 Tokyo (Opening Ceremonies)
  • Shaune Fraser (UF: 2006-10): 2008 Cayman Island (Closing Ceremonies)
  • Eddie Garcia (UF: 2012-16) 2024 U.S. Virgin Islands (Closing Ceremonies)
  • Hilda Luthersdottir (UF: 2010-14): 2016 Iceland (Closing Ceremonies)
  • Enrico Linscheer (UF: 1992-94): 1996 Suriname (Opening Ceremonies)
  • Eddie Lovett (UF: 2011-14):  2020 Tokyo (Closing Ceremonies)
  • Anthony Nesty (UF: 1989-92): 1988 Suriname (Opening Ceremonies) and 2008 Suriname (Opening Ceremonies)

Olympiad-by-Olympiad Summary

2024 Summer Olympic Games Paris (

  • Gators won the 11 medals in two different sports: swimming (8) and track & field (3)
  • Florida’s 11 medals (including U.S. and international student-athletes) stood No. 11 among all NCAA programs.  Florida shared seventh with Kentucky with 10 medals by TeamUSA athletes.
  • If the Gator Nation was a recognized country at the 2024 Olympic Games, it would have tied for 16th in the total medal count, winning 11 medals (4 gold, 4 silver, 3 bronze). Four golds also ties for 16th among the 84 nations that earned a 2024 Olympic medal.
  • The 39 Gators in Paris equaled the most ever in a single Olympic Games (39 competed in Beijing/2008 and 35 in Tokyo/2020). Those with Gator ties came from eight sports - Basketball (includes 3v3), Diving, Golf, Gymnastics, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis and Track & Field.
  • Florida was No. 4 among NCAA programs with 39 representatives and led the Southeastern Conference.
  • Caeleb Dressel’s two Olympic gold medals in 2024 gives him nine for his career. He is one of seven in Olympic history with nine or more Olympic golds. Dressel is one of five U.S. athletes with nine or more golds.
  • Caeleb Dressel won two golds (4x100 free and 4x100 mixed medley-prelims gold; 4x100 medley relay silver)
  • One of the four world swimming records set in the 2024 Olympics was achieved by Bobby Finke. His time of 14:30.67 defended his 2020 gold in the 1500 freestyle. The previous record of 14:31.02 was set by China’s Sun Yang at the 2012 London Games.
  • Bobby Finke was only U.S. man to win an individual gold in 2024. He also won silver in the 800m free.
  • Kieran Smith delivered as a late addition to the U.S.’s 4x200 free relay team. Smith anchored with the second-fastest split overall of 1:44.80 as the U.S. won silver.
  • Rising junior Josh Liendo won silver in the 100 butterfly in 49.99. That time lowers his Canadian record and makes his one of just five swimmers in history to go under 50 seconds in the 100 fly.
  • Gator grad Emma Weyant won bronze in the 400 individual medley.
  • Grant Holloway added Olympic gold to his three world (2019 Doha, 2022 Eugene, 2023 Budapest) 110-meter hurdles titles. He won the U.S.’s 20th 110m hurdle Olympic title in 2024 and the first since the 2012 London Games.
  • Jasmine Moore came to the Paris Olympics as the first U.S. woman to qualify for both the long and triple jump. At the 2024 Games, Moore extended that distinction to became the first for the U.S. to medal in both, winning bronze in each event. Moore is the first U.S. woman to medal in the triple jump. She joins Russia’s Tatyana Lebedeva (2004 gold in long; bronze in triple jump) as the only women to medal in both events at a single Games.


2020 Summer Olympic Games Tokyo (more information about Gators in 202One Olympics)

  • 38 Gators competed in the 2020 Olympics, making this the third highest number of Gators to compete in the same Olympic Games
  • Florida was ranked 5th amongst the Tokyo Olympics top collegiate representation and lead the SEC
  • Gators represented 16 different countries for the 2020 Olympics
  • A total of 19 medals were earned by 14 Gators, nine of them being gold
  • 8 different sports were represented, which is a record for the Gators
  • Michelle Moultrie, Aubree Munroe and Kelsey Stewart represented Florida in softball for the first time ever and came home with silver medals
  • Caeleb Dressel led all competitors across all sports with five 2020 gold medals. He is the fifth U.S. athlete with at least five golds in a single Games - and the first Gator.
  • Caeleb Dressel (swimming) and Will Claye (track & field) were selected as USA Team Captains
  • Bobby Finke won gold in the 800- and 1,500-meter freestyle. The 800 free was contested for the first time since a similar distance (880 yards) was raced at the 1904 St. Louis Games. Finke’s 1,500 free gold was first for U.S. since 1984
  • Kieran Smith won a bronze medal in the 400m freestyle
  • Swimmer Natalie Hinds was a part of the 4x100 meter freestyle relay that won bronze
  • Current coaches Michael Holloway (track & field), Anthony Nesty (swimming) and former coach Gregg Troy (swimming) were on the U.S. coaching staff
  • Deanne Rose and Adriana Leon won gold with Canada Soccer. It was Rose’s second Olympic medal, winning bronze with Canada Soccer in 2016. 
  • Grant Holloway won silver in the 110-meter hurdles
  • Taylor Manson was a member of the 4x400 mixed relay that earned a bronze medal
  • USA baseball won silver which gave the Gators and Mark Kolozsvary an Olympic medal
  • Three Gators served as flag bearers for the 2020 Olympic Opening or Closing Ceremonies:
    • Joseph Fahnbulleh (UF: 2019-22): 2020 Liberia (Opening Ceremonies)
    • Brett Fraser (UF: 2007-11): 2020 Cayman Islands (Opening Ceremonies)
    • Eddie Lovett (UF: 2011-14) 2020 U.S. Virgin Islands (Closing Ceremonies)

 2016 Summer Olympic Games Rio De Janeiro

  • the 30 Gators competing were tied for the third-most in a single Olympic Games
  • 11 Gators combined to win 13 medals, the sixth-most by a Gator contingency, while the seven gold medals ranked as the fourth-most
  • Gators won medals in the sports of swimming, track & field and for the first time indoor volleyball
  • Among all U.S. colleges, Florida ranked tied-for-fourth for total medals won (Texas also won 13; Stanford – 27, California & Southern California – 21)
  • The 13 medals won by Gator letterwinners were the most by an SEC school (No. 6 Georgia 10, No. 13 Tennessee 5)
  • If the Gator Nation was a country, it would have ranked No. 13 (based on Google)
  • Gators competed in the sports of Golf and Indoor Volleyball for the first time, increasing the total number of sports competing in to 14
  • The most successful medal day for Gator letterswinners was August 20, when Arman "Gino" Hall and Tony McQuay ran the first two legs for Team USA's gold-medal-winning 4x400 relay, Novlene Williams-Mills anchored Jamaica's 4x400 relay team to a silver medal and Kelly Murphy (USA) collected an indoor volleyball bronze medal.
  • Rising junior Caeleb Dressel and Conor Dwyer both won two swimming medals during the games, with Dressel taking two golds 4x100m free relay, 4x100 medley relay) and Dwyer a gold (4x200m free relay) and a bronze (200m free).
  • Christian Taylor and Will Claye became the first men in history to finish 1-2 in the triple jump at consecutive Olympiads.
  • Christian Taylor (USA) became the fifth man in history to defend his Olympic triple jump gold medal.
  • Will Claye (USA) became the fifth American in Olympic history to win multiple medals in the triple jump. Claye also took silver at the 2012 Olympics.
  • Genevieve LaCaze (Australia) finished 12th in the women's 5,000 meters final, as she clocked a 10-second personal record. Genevieve LaCaze (Australia) setting a personal record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase final.
  • Kerron Clement (USA) became the seventh man in American history to win multiple medals in the 400 hurdles. Clement won an Olympic gold medal with USA's 4x400 relay and a silver medal in the 400 hurdles at the 2008 Olympics.
  • Stipe Zunic (Croatia), making his Olympic debut, finished eighth overall in the shot put qualifying round and went on to take 11th place in the final. Zunic is the first Croatian in Olympic history to throw in the shot put final.
  • Sandra Gal (Germany) made history as the first Gator golfer to ever compete in the Olympics.
  • Aury Cruz helped Puerto Rico make its first-ever appearance in the Olympic Games, as she and Kelly Murphy (USA) became the first two Gators to compete in the sport of indoor volleyball.
  • Hilda Luthersdottir placed sixth in the 100 breast final at 1:07.18, and became the first Icelandic woman ever to compete in an Olympic swimming final.
  • Elizabeth Beisel was voted by her peers as one of Team USA Swimming captains.

2012 Summer Olympic Games in London

2012 Olympics

  • the 35 Gators competing were the second-most in a single Olympic Games (36 competed in Beijing in 2008)
  • Gators combine to win 17 total Olympic medals, the second-highest total (21 in 1984 Los Angeles)
  • Gators won the 17 medals in four different sports: soccer, swimming, tennis, track & field (20 of the 21 medals won in 1984 were in the sport of swimming – the other in track & field)
  • If the Gator Nation was a recognized country at the 2012 Olympic Games, it would have tied for 13th place in the total medal count, winning 17 medals (6 gold, 5 silver, 6 bronze).
  • Gators won their first-ever Olympic medal in the sport of tennis (Lisa Raymond, Mixed Doubles, Bronze, Aug. 5)
  • Gators won their first-ever Olympic medal in a field event in Track & Field (Will Claye, Long Jump, Bronze on Aug. 4)
  • Ryan Lochte’s five Olympic medals tied for the most by a Gator letterwinner in a single Olympiad with Dara Torres, who won five medals at the 2000 Games in Sydney
  • August 9, 2012, tied for the most successful day ever by Gator letterwinners at the Olympic Games. At the 2012 Olympic Games, Christian Taylor (USA Triple Jump Gold), Abby Wambach (USA Women’s Soccer Gold), Heather Mitts (USA Women’s Soccer Gold), Will Claye (USA Triple Jump Silver) and Mel Booth (Canada Women’s Soccer Bronze) each won medals on August 9.

On July 31, 1984, and on August 3, 1984, Gators also combined to win five Olympic medals, all coming in the sport of swimming:
On July 31, 1984, Mark Stockwell, Theresa Andrews, Mary Wayte, Frederic Delcourt and Dara Torres each won Olympic medals.
On Aug. 3, 1984, Tracy Caulkins won two gold medals, while Mark Stockwell, Theresa Andrews and Rafael Vidal each won medals in the pool.

Christian Taylor’s gold medal in the triple jump on Aug. 9, 2012, is the first individual gold medal in the history of Florida track & field on the men’s or women’s side, with Will Claye taking the silver medal. Taylor’s gold medal is the first for the U.S. since Kenny Harrison in 1996. This is the first time since 1992 (gold: Mike Conley, silver: Charles Simpkins) that Team USA has finished 1-2 in the men’s triple jump. Claye, who earned a bronze medal in the men’s long jump earlier in the London Games, is the first American man since 1904 to medal in both jumps at the same Olympics, and Thursday marks the first time since 1936 that any man has medaled in both.

On August 4, 2012, Will Claye (U.S.A.) turned in a clutch performance in the men’s long jump, winning a bronze medal with his leap of 8.12m/26-7.75. Claye won the first field event medal for the Gators in University of Florida history on the men’s or women’s side. Claye is the first American to turn in a podium finish since 2004 (Dwight Phillips-gold, John Moffitt-silver).

UPDATE in May 2014: one member of the U.S.A. 4x100 meter silver-medal-winning relay team had his results disqualified and all members of the relay team – including Gator Jeff Demps – were forced to return their medal.

2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver

Three-time Olympian and former UF track and field athlete Steve Mesler competed in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games as a member of the United States four-man bobsled team. Mesler led the United States to its first gold medal in the four-man bobsled event since 1948, while presenting the Gator Nation with its first Winter Olympic Games medal.

2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing

2008 Olympics

Dara Torres made her fifth Olympic appearance at age 41 in the 2008 Beijing Olympics making her the oldest athlete to ever compete in the Summer Olympic games. Since her first appearance in the 1984 Olympic Games, Torres has won four gold, four silver and four bronze medals in various swimming events. Ryan Lochte also made a impression during the 2008 games as he broke the record for the 200meter men’s back and men’s 4x200 Free Final.

A record 36 current and former UF athletes and five Gator coaches, 3 assistant and 2 head coaches, in 7 different sports represented 19 different countries at the 2008 Beijing Games.

If the Gator Nation was a nation recognized by the International Olympic Committee, it would have tied for 18th for total medals earned in the 2008 Games. Gator Olympians competing in the Beijing games represented 6 new countries represented, Curacao, Estonia, Georgia, Hungry, Iceland and The Cayman Islands.

2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece

2004 Olympics

2004 was another banner outing for athletes and coaches with University of Florida ties, as 25 athletes and two coaches combined for seven medals - four gold, two silver and a bronze. Abby Wambach scored the game-winning goal in overtime of the gold medal match to lead the United States to victory, while Ryan Lochte led the United States to a victory in the 4x200-meter freestyle. Darian Townsend helped the South African squad set a world record in the 4x100-meter freestyle, while Lochte added a silver in the 200-meter individual medley, while on the track Bernard Williams took home silver in the 200-meter dash.

2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney

Twenty-one Florida athletes and coaches represented 12 different countries in the 2000 Games in Sydney.

Six former UF athletes accounted for 11 medals including seven Golds.

Brad Wilkerson helped the United States win its first ever baseball Gold Medal, while DeLisha Milton won gold with the USA women's basketball team. Carlos Jayme registered a bronze medal for his native Brazil. Bernard Williams and Ashley Tappin both struck gold in different 4x100-meter relays. Williams won his in track, Tappin hers in swimming, where she also struck gold in the 4x100-meter medley relay.

If the University of Florida were a country, the Gators would have tied for 24th, ahead of 56 other countries. Their seven Gold Medals tied them for 14th place.

1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta

Coming back to the United States in 1996, the Centennial Olympiad in Atlanta again provided an opportunity for current and former Gators to represent their countries in the Olympics.

UF swimmer and Gainesville resident Allison Wagner finished second in the 400-meter individual medley to join Dennis Mitchell (4x100m relay) as UF's top medal winners. Former women's track and field standout Michelle Freeman took home a bronze in the 4x100m relay for Jamaica.

In all, the contingent of 30 Gators won six medals in Atlanta, including one gold, four silvers and a bronze.

1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona

The 1992 Barcelona Summer Games became the second most successful Olympics (at that time) in Florida history. Twenty-seven athletes competed for seven countries in four sports. The 26 Gators won 15 medals, including nine golds.

Florida swimmer Nicole Haislett took home three medals, all gold. She won the 200-meter freestyle and participated in the 400-meter freestyle relay and the 400-meter medley relay. Haislett finished the 1992 Games with the most gold medals of any U.S. competitor and tied for the most gold medals of any female Olympic competitor with Krizstina Egerszegi, a swimmer from Hungary.

Former Gator Martin Zubero was the hero of the Games as he became the first Spanish swimming gold medalist, when he won the 200-meter backstroke. The Olympic record time was performed in front of the home crowd, which included the king and queen of Spain.

If Florida would have been a country, the Gators would have finished tied for 19th in the medal standings.

Three Gators finished the 1992 Games with a piece of a world record. Track star Dennis Mitchell ran the third leg of the 4x100 relay that set a world record. Haislett and Dara Torres both swam on the 400-meter freestyle relay that also set a world record.

1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul

Golden Gator success continued in 1988. Twenty-three Gators represented six countries and brought home 15 medals, including five golds.

Anthony Nesty swam for his native Suriname and became the country’s first-ever Olympic medalist when he out-touched favorite Matt Biondi in the 100-meter butterfly. Nesty also became just the second black athlete to win an Olympic swimming medal. Suriname honored Nesty’s accomplishment by placing his likeness on a stamp and on gold and silver coins, as well as on a 25-Giulders bank note.

Troy Dalbey (2 gold), Dara Torres (1 silver, 1 bronze) and Mary Wayte (1 silver, 1 bronze) each represented the USA swim team and each collected a pair of Olympic medals in Seoul.

1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles

In terms of medals, no Olympiad can compare to the success enjoyed by Florida swimmers at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. Florida swimmers appeared on the award stand 21 times, picking up the gold on 14 occasions.

Twenty-eight Gators represented 10 different nations, compiling such an impressive total that if the University of Florida were a nation it would have finished second as a country to the USA in the swimming competition and 14th overall among the 140 competing countries.

One gymnast, one tennis player and three track stars also competed in Los Angeles. The 1984 Olympics was indeed the year of the Gator gold.

1980 Summer Olympic Games in Moscow

Despite the Olympic boycott by several countries, a number of Gators still found their way to Moscow for the 1980 Olympics. David Zubero captured the lone Gator medal in the '80 Olympics as he swam his way to a bronze for Spain in the 100-meter butterfly.

1976 Summer Olympic Games in Montreal

In 1976, Tim McKee and 10 other UF athletes traveled to Montreal and again McKee came away with another swimming silver medal.

1972 Summer Olympic Games in Munich

The Olympic tradition for Gator letterwinners began in 1972 when track and field standout Ron Jourdan, swimmer Tim McKee and Harry Winkler (Track at UF, Team Handball at Olympics) exchanged the Orange and Blue of UF for the red, white and blue of the United States. Jourdan com­peted in the high jump, while McKee collected two silvers in Munich.

1968 Summer Olympic Games in Mexico City

1968 was the first year an athlete with UF ties won an Olympic medal — only her medal came before those UF ties began. Catie Ball was 16 years old and about to start her junior year at Jacksonville Robert E. Lee High when she anchored the women’s 4x100 relay in Mexico City.

(from Wikipedia) After the Olympics, Ball received a special scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida but effectively dropped out of competition swimming because there were no women's college swim teams at the time and because of her desire to lead a more "normal" life. As an undergraduate senior at the University of Florida, she was hired by athletic director Ray Graves to be the first head coach of the newly organized women's Florida Gators swimming and diving team in Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) competition during the 1972–1973 school year. In their first year of intercollegiate competition, Ball's Lady Gators swimmers were undefeated in dual meets and placed second at the AIAW national championship during her single-season tenure. Ball graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in education in 1973.

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