How many Olympic gold medals has Dawn Staley won? A look at South Carolina HC’s achievements
South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley has won four Olympic gold medals — three as a player and one as a coach. Her contribution to the U.S. women's national basketball team remains unparalleled, helping them dominate the international stage.
Staley secured her first Olympic gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, leading Team USA to an undefeated 8-0 record that year. Four years later in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, she got her second gold.
The 2004 Athens Olympics held significance for Staley, as she had the honor of being the flag-bearer for the United States during the opening ceremony, marking a moment for basketball players. The 5-foot-6 point guard spearheaded Team USA to another first-place finish and a third Olympic gold medal to her records.
Furthermore, Staley, a three-time NCAA national champion coach with South Carolina, had a run as the USA women's team head coach that saw them win gold medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Here is the list of all the gold medals Staley won for the United States.
Dawn Staley shares her experience of being a flag-bearer at Olympics
Staley was chasing her third gold in as many appearances in the Olympics in 2004. Nevertheless, she was surprised when the U.S. Olympic Committee announced she would carry the national flag in the opening parade of the 2004 Athens Olympics.
"It was surprising to me. I just got up and said a few things and five, 10 minutes later, I was standing and accepting the flag bearer position," Staley said after being selected to carry the U.S. national flag.
"I am in disbelief. I am a little girl from North Philadelphia in the housing projects... I'm honored it's something that I didn't fathom being a flag bearer for anything, but I'm going do it with dignity, honor and respect," she added.
Her performance in the Athens Olympics earned her the title of 2004 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year. Additionally, Staley is a six-time WNBA All-Star and has been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player.