Duke Kahanamoku
Duke Kahanamoku introduced a powerful style of swimming, winning five medals (three gold) over three Olympic Games. He then became a surfing ambassador to the world.
This May, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum proudly celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month by honoring Asian American Olympians, Paralympians, and AAPI athletes who have helped shape the legacy of Team USA.
From record-breaking performances to historic firsts, Asian American and Pacific Islander athletes have made lasting contributions to the Olympic & Paralympic Games through their extraordinary achievements, inspiring generations of fans worldwide.
Across decades and disciplines, AAPI athletes have played a vital role in Team USA’s success. These famous Asian American athletes and Pacific Islander competitors have not only earned medals but have also elevated the global profile of their sports.
Icons like Apolo Anton Ohno, one of the most decorated Asian American Olympians in Winter Games history, and Kristi Yamaguchi, a gold medalist who became one of the most recognizable Asian American athletes in figure skating, elevated the global profile of their sports.
In the Paralympic movement, athletes like Trischa Zorn-Hudson helped redefine what’s possible in sport and expand visibility for elite AAPI athletes worldwide.
The impact of Asian American and Pacific Islander athletes extends far beyond competition. Their legacy includes increasing representation in Olympic & Paralympic sports and strengthening the global spirit and diversity of the Games.
Join us this month as we showcase their achievements and explore the legacy of AAPI athletes who continue to shape the future of sport and inspire countless fans worldwide.
Discover some of the most iconic AAPI Olympians & Paralympians who represented Team USA in the Summer and Winter Games.
Duke Kahanamoku introduced a powerful style of swimming, winning five medals (three gold) over three Olympic Games. He then became a surfing ambassador to the world.
Flo Hyman helped lead Team USA to a silver medal at the Olympic Games Los Angeles 1984, the first Olympic medal ever won by the U.S. women’s volleyball team.
Kristi Yamaguchi won the ladies’ singles figure skating gold medal at the Albertville 1992 Olympic Winter Games.
Michelle Kwan sits as the most decorated figure skater – male or female – in the United States, having won 43 championships.
Diver Sammy Lee overcame racial prejudice while growing up to become the first Asian-American man to win an Olympic gold medal.
It was at an internment camp in the desert during World War II that Tommy Kono’s asthma dissipated and he was introduced to weightlifting, eventually winning two Olympic gold medals and one silver.
Swimmer Trischa Zorn-Hudson is the most successful athlete in the history of the Paralympic Games, having won 55 medals, including 41 gold medals, over seven Paralympics.