Katie Ledecky and Rai Benjamin were from the most successful U.S. colleges at the Paris Olympics (Source: Getty)

5 U.S. colleges whose athletes took home the most medals from Paris Olympics 2024

Modified Aug 16, 2024 17:16 GMT

The United States had a highly successful outing at the Paris Olympics, as they topped the medal tally with 126 medals. With 40 golds, 44 silvers and 42 bronzes, they were the only nation to cross three-figures in the medal tally.

Several top athletes from the nation impressed in Paris, with the likes of Simone Biles, Gabby Thomas, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Rai Benjamin being among the multiple gold-medal winners.

Several colleges in the United States had their athletes/graduates competing at the quadrennial Games, with many of them winning medals.

On that note, let's take a look at the top five colleges in the country whose athletes took home the most medals from the Paris Olympics.

#5 University of Virginia - 14

The Virginia Cavaliers are in fifth position with 14 medals to their name: seven golds, five silvers and two bronzes.

11 of the Virginia Cavaliers' medals at the Paris Olympics came in swimming, with Kate Douglass and Gretchen Walsh winning four medals each, two of which were gold. While both swimmers won medals in relay events, Douglass won the 200m breaststroke gold while Walsh won silver in the 100m butterfly.

Other medalists from the University of Virginia include swimmer Paige Madden, Dutch field hockey player Pien Dicke, soccer player Emily Sonnet and British rower Heidi Long.

#4 University of Southern California - 15

The USC Trojans had 15 medals from the Paris Olympics, seven of them being gold while two were silver and six were bronze.

Rai Benjamin was one notable name from the institution, as he won two golds in the French capital. The 27-year-old won the 400m hurdles event ahead of Karsten Warholm before helping the United States win the 4x400m relay event. Two members of the Canada's gold-winning team in the 4x100m relay, namely, Andre De Grasse and Aaron Brown, have also represented the USC Trojans in the past.

Twanisha Terry, Anna Cockrell and Nocile Yeargin are other medalists from the Paris Olympics who've represented the University of Southern California before.

#3 University of Texas - 16

The Texas Longhorns had several notable athletes in the Paris Olympics and the institute boasts of 16 medals, with six golds, seven silvers and three bronzes.

Julien Alfred had an Olympics to remember, as she gave Saint Lucia their first medals in the sporting event. The 23-year-old won the 100m gold while clinching silver in the 200m event. Ryan Crouser made history, as he won his third successive shot put gold, becoming the only athlete to attain this feat.

Basketball star Kevin Durant was part of the American team that won the men's basketball tournament at the Paris Olympics while Scottie Scheffler won gold in golf. Long jump gold medalist Tara Davis-Woodhall and swimmer Carston Foster also represented the Texas Longhorns.

#2 University of California, Berkeley - 23

The Golden Bears tied their school record of 23 Olympic medals, with five golds, ten silvers and eight bronzes.

Swimming was a major event for UC Berkeley, with Ryan Murphy adding to his already-impressive tally of Olympic medals. The 29-year-old was a part of the men's 4x100m mixed medley relay team that won gold and also helped the 4x100m men's medley relay side clinch silver.

Individually, he won a bronze in the 100m backstroke. Jack Alexy and Hunter Armstrong were both part of the team that won gold in the men's 4x100m freestyle relay.

Rowing was another successful sport for the UC Berkeley, as they had six medalists across five countries. Three members from the United States' gold-winning team in water polo also represented the Golden Bears, as did hammer throw champion Camryn Rogers.

#1 Stanford University - 39

Stanford were by far the most successful U.S. college at the Paris Olympics, boasting 39 medals, with 12 golds, 14 silvers and 13 bronzes. This is a new record for the institute, surpassing their Rio 2016 tally of 27 medals.

A lot of United States' success in swimming came from Stanford, with Torri Huske winning the 100m butterfly while also being part of the gold-winning teams in the women's 4x100m medley relay. The legendary Katie Ledecky had another successful Olympic campaign in Paris, winning gold in the 800m and 1500m freestyle events. Regan Smith won five medals, two of which were gold.

Discus throw champion Valarie Allman also represented Stanford, as did three players from the US women's soccer team who won gold.