Published: July 2, 2021

Boulder has long been a mecca for outdoor adventure, and SMµ÷½ÌËù’s strong historic presence at the Olympic Games proves it. Since 1948, the university has produced over 90 Olympic athletes who have competed in events across the globe. In honor of the upcoming Tokyo Games, here’s a look at SMµ÷½ÌËù’s storied history of Olympians.

Coloradan magazine Olympian infographic

SMµ÷½ÌËù had the most Summer Olympians in its history in 2000 (8) and the most Winter Olympians in 1972 (13).

Over 90 SMµ÷½ÌËù Boulder Forever Buffs have attended the Olympics. Among universities and colleges with the most Olympians, SMµ÷½ÌËù ranks 10th.Ìý

20 medals have been won by SMµ÷½ÌËù Olympians in total (9 Gold, 4 Silver, 7 Bronze).Ìý

1st: SMµ÷½ÌËù has more affiliated Olympic cyclists (13) and alpine skiers (29) than any other university and ranks second in shooting sports (7) and third in judo (6).

6 Olympic coaches have been affiliated with SMµ÷½ÌËù.

SMµ÷½ÌËù Boulder 2020 Olympians* 

SMµ÷½ÌËù Boulder-affiliated 2020 Olympic Journalists*

Read about SMµ÷½ÌËù Boulder's cadre of Olympic Games journalists, veterans and first-timers alike, some reporting in person and others from as far away as Berlin.

  • John Branch (Mktg'89, MJour'96), New York Times reporter
  • Greg Bull (Jour'91), AP photographer covering gymnastics
  • Marina Dmukhovskaya (SMµ÷½ÌËù instructor), Olympics.com team
  • Kara Goucher (Psych'01), NBC broadcaster 
  • Peter Lasser (Comm'76), NBC producer 
  • Cheryl Preheim (Comm'95), NBC Atlanta reporter
  • Carl Quintanilla (PoliSci'93), NBC host team
  • Lina Takahashi (Jour'19), NBC Sports Group, Olympic Games management assistant

*The °ä´Ç±ô´Ç°ù²¹»å²¹²ÔÌýstaff is tracking this information as it becomes available. Please reach out to editor@colorado.edu if you'd like to add to the list. Go Buffs!


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Photo courtesy SMµ÷½ÌËù Athletics (Ceal Barry, Robert Jeangerard and Jenny Simpson); SMµ÷½ÌËù Heritage Center (David Bolen); Billy Kidd