U.S. Olympic Team Has More Women Than Men

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The Summer Olympics



For the first time in U.S. Olympic history, female athletes will outnumber their male counterparts at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England.


There are a total of 530 U.S. Olympians competing this year in London, and 269 of them are women. That leaves 261 male competitors on the team, a first for the U.S. Olympic team.

United States Olympic Committee (USOC) CEO Scott Blackmun said the female majority was “a true testament to the impact of Title IX,” the law that increased opportunities for women in sports, which celebrated its 40th anniversary this year.

The U.S. Olympic team will compete in 25 sports, and in total 246 of the 302 medal events available at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Of the 530 Olympians competing this year, 228 are returning from one or more previous Olympics, including five women. They are:

• Track and field star Amy Acuff

• Archery expert Khatuna Lorig

• Equestrian standout Karen O'Connor

• Shooting expert Kim Rhode

• Indoor volleyball star Danielle Scott-Arruda

At age 54, Karen O'Connor is not only the oldest female Olympian representing the United States in London, she's also the oldest Olympian on the entire team. Her Olympic experience started at age 30 in 1988 in Seoul, South Korea, with returns in Atlanta in 1996, Sydney, Australia in 2000, and Beijing, China in 2008.


The youngest U.S. Olympian competing in London is Team U.S.A. swimmer Katie Ledecky. Born March 17, 1997, the high school sophomore from Bethesda, Maryland, still not old enough to drive, will compete in the 800m freestyle event.

It's a wonderful narrative that this year's U.S. Olympic team is bookended by the female athletes who represent the youngest and the oldest competitors. It's a testament to those still waiting to compete that they will soon have their chance, and motivation for those who might think they're possibly too old to contribute.

The American Dream is all about grabbing the bull by the horns and carving out your own glory, freedom, and opportunities. The 2012 Olympic Team, led by the most female athletes in our nation's short history, is proof positive the Dream is still alive and kicking.

About the Author: Porter Olson is a writer and blogger for UsDirect TV.

U.S. Olympic Team Has More Women Than Men