1996 Atlanta Summer Games | U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum

1996 Women’s Soccer Team

Women’s soccer was added to the Olympic Games for the first time ever and while it was only an eight-team competition, it was a rousing success capped by the U.S. 2-1 victory over China in the gold-medal game.

Lisa Leslie

A four-time Olympic gold medalist, Lisa Leslie owns 10 U.S. Olympic records, including most points in a game (35). Leslie was a three-time WNBA Most Valuable Player and two-time WNBA champion.

Ron O’Brien

After narrowly missing qualifying for the Rome 1960 Olympic Games, Ron O'Brien became one of the sport's finest coaches. His divers won 154 gold, 90 silver and 78 bronze medals in major Olympic, world, national, NCAA and Big Ten Conference diving championships in his first 25 years of coaching.

Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games

The United States' women's teams enjoyed resounding success at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, capturing the first-ever gold medals in women's soccer and softball, as well as winning gold in women's gymnastics team all-around and women's basketball.

1996 Women’s Gymnastics Team

Led by Kerri Strug and Shannon Miller, the Magnificent Seven became the first U.S. Women's Gymnastics Team to win the team all-around gold medal in the Olympic Games.

Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games: American gold medalists

The United States led the medal count with 101 medals: 44 gold, 32 silver and 25 bronze.

On Exhibit: Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games Torch

The Atlanta 1996 Olympic Torch included 22 aluminum reeds, one for each modern Olympic Games, and traveled more than 15,000 miles and went into space during its Torch Relay.

Amy Van Dyken

Swimmer Amy Van Dyken overcame asthma to win six Olympic gold medals. In the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, she became the first American woman to win four gold medals in a single Olympics.

Jenny Thompson

Swimmer Jenny Thompson is the most decorated American female in Olympic history, winning 12 medals over the course of four Olympic Games: eight gold, three silver and one bronze.

David Robinson

David Robinson did not stand out on the basketball court until starring at the Naval Academy. He played in three Olympic Games, winning two gold medals and one bronze.

Olympiad: 1996 Atlanta Summer Games