Looking at Kansas' history at the Olympics

TOPEKA (KSNT) — Which state has the most Olympic gold medals? 27 News took a look at Olympic history and its ties to Kansas by creating a list of notable Olympians from the Sunflower State. This list includes Summer and Winter Olympics since 1924, and is based on the athlete's birthplace. Kansas Olympic quick facts [...]

TOPEKA (KSNT) — Which state has the most Olympic gold medals?

27 News took a look at Olympic history and its ties to Kansas by creating a list of notable Olympians from the Sunflower State. This list includes Summer and Winter Olympics since 1924, and is based on the athlete's birthplace.

Kansas Olympic quick facts

• As of 2020, a total of 76 Kansans have competed in the Summer Olympics, according to the Kansas Historical Society.
• Kansans have brought home:
  • 39 gold medals
  • 14 silver medals
  • 13 bronze medals

Some Prominent Kansas Olympians

• John Kuck of Wilson participated in the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. Kuck broke a shotput world record by nearly 13 inches while having a broken ankle. Kuck brought home a gold medal for his showing.
• Glenn Cunningham of Elkhart competed in the 1,500-meter run in the 1932 and 1936 Olympics. In 1936 he captured a silver medal just behind Jack Lovelock of New Zealand, who set a world record.
• William M. "Bill" Hougland of Caldwell was the first basketball player in Olympic history to win two gold medals. He did this at the 1952 games in Helsinki, Finland and at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. He was inducted into the Kansas Hall of Fame in 2006.
• Kansas University's Al Oerter was the first Olympian to win four gold medals in the same event. He won gold in discus in 1956, 1960, 1964 and 1968. He was inducted into the Kansas Hall of Fame in 1976.
• Born in 1902, Gene Johnson was the first coach to lead the USA to basketball domination, according to the Kansas Hall of Fame. He was head coach of the US team that won the first Olympic gold medal at the 1936 Games in Berlin. He was inducted to the Kansas Hall of Fame in 2004.
• Maurice Greene of Kansas City, Kansas, was dubbed the world's fastest human in 1999 after setting a world record for the 100-meter dash. He took home a gold medal the following year. He was inducted into the Kansas Hall of Fame in 2007.
• Pete Mehringer was born and raised on a farm near Kinsley, Kansas in 1910. He hitch-hiked to a state wrestling meet in 1928. Two years later he hitchhiked to the state meet and won the heavyweight title. At 22-years-old he won Olympic gold at the 1934 Olympic Games in Los Angeles for wrestling. He was inducted to the Kansas Hall of Fame in 2004.
• Allen "Al" Kelley was one of the most decorated basketball players in Kansas history. He joined the U.S. Olympic basketball team in 1952. He was inducted into the Kansas Hall of Fame in 2013.

A quick breakdown

• California takes the gold with 133 Olympic gold medals since 1924, beating second place, New York, by 70 medals!
• The only two states without Olympic gold to their name are North Dakota and Rhode Island.
  • Ethel Catherwood, born in North Dakota, won gold in the high jump in 1928... But while competing for Team Canada!
• Washington D.C., the third-least populated state, ranks 31st. Not bad!

Where does your state fall?

Only gold medals in individual events were counted. For the sake of simplicity, gold medals awarded to teams, doubles or relays were excluded.

Rank	State	Number of gold medals
1	California	133
2	New York	63
3	Illinois	40
4	Ohio	37
5	Texas	37
6	Maryland	29
7	Pennsylvania	23
8	Florida	22
9	Michigan	21
10	New Jersey	21
11	Wisconsin	20
12	Alabama	18
13	Georgia	18
14	Washington	17
15	Colorado	12
16	Oregon	12
17	Iowa	11
18	Mississippi	11
19	Missouri	11
20	North Carolina	10
21	Arkansas	9
22	Massachusetts	9
23	Virginia	9
24	Oklahoma	8
25	Utah	8
26	Connecticut	7
27	Montana	7
28	Hawaii	6
29	Indiana	6
30	Kansas	6
31	Washington, DC	6
32	Arizona	5
33	Minnesota	5
34	Tennessee	5
35	Vermont	5
36	West Virginia	5
37	Idaho	4
38	Louisiana	4
39	Nebraska	4
40	Nevada	4
41	South Dakota	4
42	Kentucky	3
43	New Hampshire	3
44	New Mexico	3
45	South Carolina	3
46	Alaska	2
47	Delaware	1
48	Maine	1
49	Wyoming	1
50	North Dakota	0
51	Rhode Island	0

The 2024 Olympics start on July 26 and run until Aug. 11.

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