Olympic history

Olympic history

The history of the new york athletic club and of the olympic movement are deeply inter-twined, dating to the dawn of the modern games.

Club member Thomas Burke took two gold medals (the 100m and 400m) at the inaugural Modern Olympic Games, held in Athens in 1896. His results spurred the New York Athletic Club, entering its fourth decade of existence, to organize greater representation at subsequent Games. At that time, the Club's Captain was Charles Sherrill; he took charge of the US Olympic squad for Paris in 1900, a Games at which the NYAC claimed 22 medals in track and field and swimming. This was the NYAC's first true stamp on the Olympic movement, a stamp that is now indelible.

In every year since, the NYAC has seen its members compete at the summer Olympic Games, and in an ever-expanding array of sports. Club athletes have excelled in rowing, track and field, fencing, judo, water polo and wrestling, to name a handful. Those men and women have expanded the barriers of athletic possibility. Al Oerter became the first track and field athlete in history to win the same event at four consecutive Games (the discus in 1956, 1960, 1964 and 1968). Kayla Harrison became the first American ever to win an Olympic gold medal in judo, accomplishing that feat in London in 2012 and, remarkably, repeating in Rio in 2016.

The Tokyo 2020 Games saw 56 NYAC athletes in action, 19 of whom won a total of 20 medals, 10 of which were gold. Two NYAC athletes also competed in the Tokyo Paralympic Games, claiming one gold, one silver and one bronze medal.

Justifiably, the NYAC's Olympic medal tally is a source of enormous pride among members. In its history, NYAC athletes have claimed 291 medals in Olympic competition, 161 of which have been gold. With that has come a steadfast commitment to the creation of an environment in which excellence will flourish, be it in athletics, commerce, the arts or individual well-being.

The NYAC's athletes and the Club's history in Olympic competition are the personification of a commitment to excellence that is as steadfast in the 21st century as it was in 1868.

Olympic Medalists Accordion

Tokyo, 2020

Gold medals

  • Valarie Allman: Track and Field (Discus)
  • Rachel Fattal, Kaleigh Gilchrist, Stephania Haralabidis, Ashleigh Johnson, Madeline Musselman, Jamie Neushul, Melissa Seidemann, Maggie Steffens, Alys Williams: Water Polo

Silver medals

  • Adeline Gray: Wrestling (76kg)
  • Katie Zaferes, Taylor Knibb, Morgan Pearson: Triathlon Mixed Relay
  • Joe Kovacs: Track and Field (Shot Put)

Bronze medals

  • Katie Zaferes: Triathlon
  • Vincent Luis (FRA): Triathlon Mixed Relay
  • Catie DeLoof: Swimming (4x100m Freestyle Relay)
  • Bekzod Abdurakhmonov (UZB): Wrestling (74kg FS)
  • Sarah Hildebrandt: Wrestling (50kg)

Paralympic medals

  • Tatyana McFadden: Gold medal, 4x100m Universal Relay
  • Tatyana McFadden: Silver medal, T54 800m
  • Tatyana McFadden: Bronze medal, T53/54 5000m

Rio De Janeiro, 2016

Gold medals

  • Michelle Carter: Track and Field (Shot Put)
  • Natasha Hastings: Track and Field (4x400m Relay)
  • Jimmy Feigen: Swimming (4x100m Freestyle Relay)
  • Katie Meili: Swimming (4x100m Medley Relay)
  • David Plummer: Swimming (4x100m Medley Relay)
  • Eleanor Logan: Rowing (Women's Eight)
  • Meghan Musnicki: Rowing (Women's Eight)
  • Amanda Polk: Rowing (Women's Eight)
  • Katelin Snyder: Rowing (Women's Eight)
  • Kerry Simmonds: Rowing (Women's Eight)
  • Kayla Harrison: Judo
  • Gwen Jorgensen: Triathlon
  • KK Clark, Kami Craig, Kaleigh GIlchrist, Ashleigh Johnson, Courtney Mathewson, Kiley Neushul, Melissa Seidemann, Maggie Steffens: Water Polo

Silver medal

  • Travis Stevens: Judo

Bronze medals

  • David Plummer: Swimming (100m Backstroke)
  • Katie Meili: Swimming (100m Breaststroke)

Paralympic medals

  • Mikey Brannigan: Gold medal, T20 1500m

London, 2012

Gold medals

  • Kayla Harrison: Judo
  • Erin Cafaro, Caroline Lind, Caryn Davies, Taylor Ritzel: Rowing (Women's Eight)
  • Tyler McGill: Swimming (4x100m Medley Relay)
  • Betsey Armstrong, Courtney Mathewson, Heather Petri, Kelly Rulon, Jessica Steffens, Lauren Wenger: Water Polo

Bronze medals

  • Reese Hoffa: Track and Field (Shot Put)
  • Courtney Hurley, Kelley Hurley, Maya Lawrence: Fencing
  • Megan Kalmoe: Rowing (Quadruple Sculls)

Paralympic medals

  • Myles Porter: Silver medal, 100kg Paralympic Judo

Beijing, 2008

Gold medals

  • Anna Mickelson Cummins: Rowing (Women's Eight)

Silver medal

  • Lauren Wenger, Moriah Van Norman, Natalie Golda, Heather Petri, Merrill Moses, Jesse Smith, Layne Beubien, Tony Azevedo, Adam Wright, Rick Merlo: Water Polo

Bronze medals

  • Ronda Rousey: Judo
  • Bryan Volpenhein, Marcus McElheney, Beau Hoopman, Wyatt Allen: Rowing (Men's Eight)

Athens, 2004

Athens, 2004

Gold medals

  • Peter Cipollone, Christian Ahrens, Jason Read, Wyatt Allen, Bryan Volpenhein: Rowing (Men's Eight)

Silver medal

  • Blaine Wilson: Gymnastics

Bronze medals

  • Jimmy Pedro: Judo
  • Heather Moody, Nicolle Payne, Robin Beauregard, Natalie Golda: Water Polo

Atlanta, 1996

Silver medal

  • Lance Deal: Hammer Throw

Bronze medals

  • Bruce Baumgartner: Freestyle Wrestling (Super Heavyweight)
  • Jimmy Pedro: Judo

Barcelona, 1992

Gold medals

  • Bruce Baumgartner: Freestyle Wrestling (Super Heavyweight)

Silver medal

  • Jason Morris: Judo

Bronze medals

  • Joseph Greene: Long Jump

Seoul, 1988

Silver medal

  • Bruce Baumgartner: Freestyle Wrestling (Super Heavyweight)

Los Angeles, 1984

Gold medals

  • Tim Daggett: Gymnastics (Team)
  • Bobby Weaver: Freestyle Wrestling (Light Flyweight)
  • Bruce Baumgartner: Freestyle Wrestling (Super Heavyweight)

Silver medal

  • Mike Tully: Pole Vault
  • Gary Figueroa: Water Polo

Bronze medals

  • Tim Daggett: Gymnastics (Pommel Horse)
  • Kevin Still: Rowing (Pair-Oared Shell With Coxswain)

Montreal, 1976

Bronze medals

  • Peter Korman: Gymnastics (Floor Exercises)
  • Stan Dziedzic: Freestyle Wrestling (Welterweight)

Munich, 1972

Silver medal

  • Jay Silvester: Discus Throw

Mexico City, 1968

Gold medals

  • Al Oerter: Discus Throw

Bronze medals

  • Tom Farrell: 800m

Tokyo, 1964

Gold medals

  • Al Oerter: Discus Throw

Silver medals

  • Frank Gorman: Springboard Diving

Rome, 1960

Gold medals

  • Doug Blubaugh: Freestyle Wrestling (Welterweight)
  • Al Oerter: Discus Throw

Melbourne, 1956

Gold medals

  • Robert Clotworthy: Springboard Diving
  • Thomas Courtney: 800m, 4x400m Relay
  • Al Oerter: Discus Throw

Helsinki, 1952

Gold medals

  • Horace Ashenfelter: 3000m Steeplechase
  • Charles Moore: 400m Hurdles
  • Lindy Remigino: 100m, 4x100m Relay

Silver medals

  • Charles Moore: 4x400m Relay

Bronze medals

  • James Fuchs: Shot Put
  • Robert Clotworthy: Springboard Diving

London, 1948

Gold medals

  • Ray Lumpp: Basketball

Bronze medals

  • James Fuchs: Shot Put
  • Leland Merrill: Freestyle Wrestling (Welterweight)
  • James Flynn: Fencing (Sabre Team)

Berlin, 1936

Silver medals

  • Eddie O'Brien: 4x400m Relay

Bronze medals

  • Daniel Barrow: Rowing (Single Scull)

Los Angeles, 1932

Gold medals

  • John Anderson: Discus Throw
  • Leo Sexton: Shot Put

Silver medals

  • Percy Beard: 110m Hurdles

Bronze medals

  • Peter Zaremba: Hammer Throw
  • Joseph Mccluskey: 3000m Steeplechase
  • Dernell Every: Fencing (Foil Team)
  • Frank Righeimer: Fencing (Foil Team), Fencing (Epee Team)
  • Curtis Shears: Fencing (Epee Team)
  • Richard Mayo: Modern Pentathlon

Amsterdam, 1928

Gold medals

  • Raymond Barbuti: 400m, 4x400m Relay
  • James Quinn: 4x100m Relay
  • Osvald Kapp: Freestyle Wrestling (Lightweight)
  • Edward Hamm: Long Jump
  • Alberto Zorilla: 400m Freestyle
  • George Kovac: 100m Backstroke, 4x200m Freestyle Relay

Silver medals

  • Ben Hedges: High Jump

Bronze medals

  • John Collier: 110m Hurdles

Paris, 1924

Gold medals

  • Allan Helffrich: 4x400m Relay
  • Francis Hunter: Tennis (Doubles)
  • Frank Hussey: 4x100m Relay
  • Vincent Richards: Tennis (Doubles), Tennis (Singles)
  • Jackson Scholtz: 200m
  • William Silkworth: Trap (Clay Pigeon) Shooting Team
  • William Stevenson: 4x400m Relay
  • Francis Hunter: Tennis (Doubles)

Silver medals

  • Vincent Richards: Tennis (Mixed Doubles)
  • Leroy Brown: High Jump
  • Jackson Scholtz: 100m
  • Matt Mcgrath: Hammer Throw
  • Eino Leino: Freestyle Wrestling (Welterweight)

Bronze medals

  • Herbert Vollmer: Water Polo

Antwerp, 1920

Gold medals

  • Ivan Dresser: 3000m Team Race
  • Karl Frederick: Free Pistol
  • Eino Leino: Freestyle Wrestling (Middleweight)
  • L. C. Murchison: 4x100m Relay
  • Patrick Mcdonald: 56lb Weight Throw
  • Richmond Landon: High Jump
  • Jackson Scholtz: 4x100m Relay
  • Fred Plum: Trap (Clay Pigeon) Shooting Team
  • Frank Loomis: 400m Hurdles

Silver medals

  • Joseph Pearman: 10k Walk
  • Nathan Pendleton: Freestyle Wrestling (Super Heavyweight)

Bronze medals

  • Arthur Lyon: Fencing (Foil Team)
  • Louis Balbach: Springboard Diving
  • Alfred P. Lane: Free Pistol
  • Fred Murray: 110m Hurdles

Stockholm, 1912

Gold medals

  • Platt Adams: Standing High Jump
  • Harry Babcock: Pole Vault
  • Matt McGrath: Hammer Throw
  • J. E. Meredith: 800m, 4x400m Relay
  • Charles Reidpath: 400m, 4x400m Relay
  • Alfred P. Lane: Rapid Fire Pistol, Free Pistol, Military Revolver Team (50m)
  • William Bowman: Fencing
  • Charles Billinger: Trap (Clay Pigeon) Shooting Team
  • Ralph Spotts: Trap (Clay Pigeon) Shooting Team
  • Frank Hall: Trap (Clay Pigeon) Shooting Team
  • Pat McDonald: Shot Put

Silver medals

  • Platt Adams: Standing Long Jump
  • James Wendell: 110m Hurdles
  • Pat McDonald: Shot Put (Both Hands)
  • Ben Adams: Standing High Jump

Bronze medals

  • Ben Adams: Standing Long Jump
  • C. C. Childs: Hammer Throw

London, 1908

Gold medals

  • Charles Bacon: 400m Hurdles
  • Charles Daniels: 100m Freestyle
  • Ray Ewry: Standing High Jump, Standing Long Jump
  • John Flanagan: Hammer Throw
  • Jay Gould: Jeu De Paume (Court Tennis)

Silver medals

  • Harry Hillman: 400m Hurdles
  • Matt McGrath: Hammer Throw
  • J. A. Rector: 100m

Bronze medals

  • John Eisele: 3000m Steeplechase
  • Charles Daniels: 4x200m Freestyle Relay
  • Leo "Budd" Goodwin: 4x200m Freestyle Relay

Athens, 1906

Gold medals

  • Charles Daniels: 100m Freestyle
  • Ray Ewry: Standing High Jump, Standing Long Jump
  • Paul Pilgrim: 400m, 800m

Silver medals

  • Fay Moulton: 100m

St. Louis, 1904

Gold medals

  • David Bratton: Water Polo
  • David Hesser: Water Polo
  • Charles Daniels: 200yd Relay, 220yd Freestyle, 440yd Freestyle
  • Percy Dickey: Diving - Plunge For Distance
  • Ray Ewry: Standing High Jump, Standing Long Jump, Standing Triple Jump
  • John Flanagan: Hammer Throw
  • Leo "Budd" Goodwin: 200yd Relay, Water Polo
  • Louis Handley: 200yd Relay, Water Polo
  • Harry Hillman: 400m, 200m Hurdles, 400m Hurdles
  • Marcus Hurley: 440yd Cycling, 880yd Cycling, One Mile Cycling, One-Third Mile Cycling
  • Samuel Jones: Running High Jump
  • David Munson: Four Mile Team Race
  • Arthur Newton: Four Mile Team Race
  • Paul Pilgrim: Four Mile Team Race
  • Joseph Ruddy: 4x50yd Relay (Swimming), Water Polo
  • James Steen: Water Polo
  • George Underwood: Four Mile Team Race
  • Howard Valentine: Four Mile Team Race
  • George Van Cleef: Water Polo

Silver medals

  • Edgar Adams: Plunge For Distance
  • David Munson: 1 Mile Run
  • John Dewitt: Hammer Throw
  • George Underwood: 440yd Hurdles
  • H. R. Warren: 1 Mile Handicap Swim
  • Howard Valentine: 800m Run
  • Charles Daniels: 100yds Freestyle
  • John Flanagan: 56lb Weight Throw
  • Francis Gailey: 220yds Freestyle

Bronze medals

  • Leo "Budd" Goodwin: Plunge For Distance
  • Louis Handley: 880yd Swim
  • Charles Daniels: 50yds Freestyle
  • Otto Wahle: 440 Yd Swim, 1500m Freestyle
  • James Mitchell: Hammer Throw, 56lb Weight Throw
  • Arthur Newton: 3000m Steeplechase, Marathon
  • E. J. Feuerbach: 16lb Shot Put
  • R. S. Stangland: Running Long Jump
  • Marcus Hurley: Two Mile Cycling

Paris, 1900

Gold medals

  • Irving Baxter: Running High Jump, Pole Vault
  • Ray Ewry: Standing High Jump, Standing Long Jump, Standing Triple Jump
  • John Flanagan: Hammer Throw
  • Richard Sheldon: 16lb Shot Put
  • George W. Orton: 2500m Steeplechase
  • Maxwell Long: 400m
  • Alvin Kraenzlein: 60m, 100m Hurdles, 200m Hurdles, Running Long Jump

Silver medals

  • Irving Baxter: Standing Triple Jump, Standing Long Jump, Standing High Jump
  • Otto Wahle: 1000m Freestyle Swim, Obstacle Race

Bronze medals

  • Richard Sheldon: Discus Throw
  • Lewis Sheldon: Standing High Jump, Two Steps & Jump
  • Fay Moulton: 60m Run

Athens, 1896

Gold medals

  • Thomas Burke: 100m, 400m