United States at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Sporting event delegation
The United States (USA) was the host nation for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta . 646 competitors, 375 men and 271 women, took part in 263 events in 31 sports.[1]
The team finished first in the overall medal rankings for the first time since 1984 , and for the first time since 1968 in a non-boycotted Summer Olympics.
Medalists
The following U.S. competitors won medals at the games. In the by discipline sections below, medalists' names are bolded .
Medals by day
Day
Date
Total
1
July 20
0
3
1
4
2
July 21
3
3
2
8
3
July 22
2
5
0
7
4
July 23
4
1
0
5
5
July 24
1
2
1
4
6
July 25
2
2
0
4
7
July 26
4
2
1
7
8
July 27
2
2
3
7
9
July 28
2
5
1
8
10
July 29
4
3
3
10
11
July 30
3
1
1
5
12
July 31
1
1
1
3
13
August 1
5
1
2
8
14
August 2
3
0
4
7
15
August 3
6
1
0
7
16
August 4
2
0
5
7
Total
44
32
25
101
Medals by gender
Gender
Total
Percentage
Male
25
20
14
59
58.4%
Female
19
10
10
39
38.6%
Mixed
0
2
1
3
3.0%
Total
44
32
25
101
100%
* – Indicates that the athlete competed in preliminaries but not the final.
Competitors
The following is the list of number of competitors in the Games.[2]
Archery
The United States claimed both of the gold medals in the men's archery competitions, with Justin Huish claiming the individual medal and the three-man team claiming the team medal. The American women were not as successful.
Men
Women
Athletics
Key
Note –Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
Q = Qualified for the next round
q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or , in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
Men
Track & road events
Notes: * – Indicates the athlete ran in a preliminary round but not the final.
Field events
Combined events – Decathlon
Athlete
Event
Points
Rank
Steve Fritz
Result
10.90
7.77
15.31
2.04
50.13
13.97
49.84
5.10
65.70
4:38.26
8644
4
Points
883
1002
809
840
809
978
867
941
824
691
Chris Huffins
Result
10.47
7.49
15.57
2.04
48.83
14.10
48.72
4.70
60.62
5:14.36
8300
10
Points
982
932
825
840
869
962
844
819
747
480
Dan O'Brien
Result
10.50
7.57
15.66
2.07
46.82
13.87
48.78
5.00
66.90
4:45.89
8824
Points
975
952
830
868
967
991
845
910
842
644
Women
Track & road events
Field events
Combined events – Heptathlon
Athlete
Event
Points
Rank
Kelly Blair
Result
13.62
1.80
12.29
24.49
6.32
50.32
2:16.87
6307
8
Points
1033
978
680
934
949
866
867
Sharon Hanson
Result
13.34
1.77
13.45
24.42
5.96
46.98
2:11.67
6292
9
Points
1074
941
757
941
837
802
940
Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Result
13.24
WD
DNF
Points
1089
Badminton
Baseball
Baseball was open only to male amateurs in 1992 and 1996. As a result, the Americans and other nations where professional baseball is developed relied on collegiate players, while Cubans used their most experienced veterans, who technically were considered amateurs as they nominally held other jobs, but in fact trained full-time. In 2000, pros were admitted, but the MLB refused to release its players in 2000, 2004, and 2008, and the situation changed only a little: the Cubans still used their best players, while the Americans started using minor leaguers. The IOC cited the absence of the best players as the main reason for baseball being dropped from the Olympic program.[3] [4]
Summary
Roster
Round robin
Semifinal
Bronze medal game
Basketball
Summary
Men's tournament
Roster
The following players represented the United States:[5]
Group play
Source:
FIBA archive Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal average; 4) head-to-head number of points scored.
(H) Hosts
Notes:
^ a b Head-to-head record: Lithuania 1–0 Croatia
^ a b Head-to-head record: China 1–0 Argentina
20 July 1996 (1996-07-20 )
Atlanta Referees: Gennaro Colucci (
ITA ), Stylianos Koukoulekidis (
GRE )
22 July 1996 (1996-07-22 )
24 July 1996 (1996-07-24 )
26 July 1996 (1996-07-26 )
28 July 1996 (1996-07-28 )
Quarterfinal
30 July 1996 (1996-07-30 ) 22:00
Atlanta Referees: Pascal Noel Dorizon (
FRA ), Jose Lapaix Guance (DOM)
Semifinal
1 August 1996 (1996-08-01 ) 22:00
Atlanta Referees: Raul Chaves Sagel (
ARG ), Stylianos Koukoulekidis (
GRE )
Gold medal game
3 August 1996 (1996-08-03 ) 22:00
Atlanta Referees: Miguel Betancor León (
ESP ), José Reyes Ronfini (
MEX )
Women's tournament
Roster
The following players represented the United States:[5]
Group play
Source:
FIBA archive Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal average; 4) head-to-head number of points scored.
(H) Hosts
Notes:
^ a b Head-to-head record: Ukraine 1–0 Australia
^ a b Head-to-head record: Cuba 1–0 South Korea
21 July 1996 (1996-07-21 )
23 July 1996 (1996-07-23 )
25 July 1996 (1996-07-25 )
27 July 1996 (1996-07-27 )
29 July 1996 (1996-07-29 )
Quarterfinal
31 July 1996 (1996-07-31 ) 15:00
Semifinal
2 August 1996 (1996-08-02 ) 17:00
Gold medal game
4 August 1996 (1996-08-04 ) 18:35
Boxing
Canoeing
Slalom
Men
Women
Athlete
Event
Run 1
Run 2
Best
Time
Rank
Time
Rank
Time
Rank
Dana Chladek
K-1
7:11.80
29
2:49.49
1
2:49.49
Cathy Hearn
2:53.03
3
3:49.93
20
2:53.03
7
Sprint
Men
Women
Key: QF – Qualified to medal final; SF – Qualified to semifinal; R – Qualified to repechage
Cycling
Road
Men
Women
Track
Points race
Sprint
Pursuit
Time trial
Mountain bike
Diving
Men
Women
Equestrian
Dressage
Eventing
Jumping
* – Though Matz placed high enough to qualify for the final, only three riders per nation were allowed to advance to the final.
Fencing
Fifteen fencers, nine men and six women, represented the United States in 1996.
Men
Women
Field hockey
Summary
Men's tournament
The US men's field hockey team competed for the sixth time at the Summer Olympics. On home soil the squad coached by Jon Clark once again finished twelfth and last.
Roster'
Head Coach: Jon Clark
Preliminary round
Source:
FIH Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) games won; 4) head-to-head result.
[6] (H) Hosts
Umpires: Sasidharan Vasutheven (MAS) Patrick van Beneden (BEL)
Umpires: Yuri Platonov (RUS) Don Prior (AUS)
Umpires: Craig Madden (GBR) Guillaume Langle (FRA)
Umpires: Yuri Platonov (RUS) Roger St. Rose (TRI)
Umpires: Sasidharan Vasutheven (MAS) Peter von Reth (NED)
9th-12th place semifinal
Umpires: Floris Idenburg (NED) Amin Ayman (EGY)
11th place match
Umpires: Henrik Ehlers (DEN) Antonio Morales (ESP)
Women's tournament
The US women's field hockey team competed for the third time at the Summer Olympics. On home soil the team coached by Pam Hixon and finished fifth.
Roster
Head coach: Pam Hixon
Preliminary round
Source:
FIH Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) goals scored; 4) head-to-head result.
[6] (H) Hosts
Umpires: Naomi Kato (JPN) Gina Spitaleri (ITA)
Umpires: Margaret Lanning (CAN) Naomi Kato (JPN)
Umpires: Kazuko Yasueda (JPN) Laura Crespo (ARG)
Umpires: Peri Buckley (AUS) Carola Heinrichs (GER)
Umpires: Kazuko Yasueda (JPN) Janice McDonald (GBR)
Umpires: Gill Clarke (GBR) Kazuko Yasueda (JPN)
Umpires: Janice McDonald (GBR) Carola Heinrichs (GER)
Summary
Men's tournament
Roster
Head coach: Bruce Arena
Preliminary round
Women's tournament
Roster
Head coach: Tony DiCicco
The United States named a squad of 16 players and 4 alternates for the tournament.[7] [8] [9] Lorrie Fair was invited to the squad as an alternate, but declined due to her disappointment of not making the team.[10]
Preliminary round
Semifinal
Gold medal match
Gymnastics
Artistic
Men
Team
Athlete
Event
Apparatus
Total
C
O
C
O
C
O
C
O
C
O
C
O
Score
Rank
Mihai Bagiu
Team
—
9.637
9.000
—
9.587
—
9.300
8.550
9.787
—
Jair Lynch
9.500
9.725
9.475
9.587
9.250
9.300
9.587
9.575
9.650
9.725 Q
9.200
—
John Macready
9.475
9.450
9.350
9.375
9.325
9.487
9.425
9.150
9.450
8.850
9.500
9.537
112.374
33 Q
John Roethlisberger
9.587
9.725
9.700
9.100
9.600
9.600
9.562
9.575
9.575
9.575
9.500
9.787
114.886
5 Q
Kip Simons
9.300
9.325
—
9.462
9.650
9.525
9.425
9.300
9.537
9.400
9.537
—
Chainey Umphrey
9.300
9.250
9.225
9.250
9.375
9.625
—
9.300
9.200
—
9.587
—
Blaine Wilson
9.500
9.200
9.350
9.625
9.612
9.725 Q
9.575
9.625
9.500
9.425
9.475
9.725
114.337
12 Q
Total
94.837
94.449
95.461
95.336
95.037
95.498
570.618
5
Individual finals
Women
Team
Athlete
Event
Apparatus
Total
C
O
C
O
C
O
C
O
Score
Rank
Amanda Borden
Team
—
9.312
9.725
9.712
9.762
—
Amy Chow
9.700
9.712
9.762
9.837 Q
—
Dominique Dawes
9.725
9.762 Q
9.762
9.850 Q
9.425
9.725
9.687
9.850 q *
77.786
6 Q
Shannon Miller
9.762
9.700 q *
9.775
9.787
9.737
9.862 Q
9.787
9.618
78.028
2 Q
Dominique Moceanu
9.662
9.200
9.725
9.812
9.687
9.850 Q
9.750
9.837 Q
77.523
11 q *
Jaycie Phelps
9.587
9.662
9.712
9.787
9.012
9.600
9.662
9.750
76.722
17
Kerri Strug
9.812
9.712 Q *
9.675
9.787
9.350
9.737
9.825
9.837 Q *
77.735
7 Q *
Total
97.209
97.809
96.410
97.797
389.225
Individual finals
* – Strug slightly injured her ankle during her first vault attempt in the final rotation of the team competition, then exacerbated the injury on her second attempt to dramatically clinch the gold for the United States. Due to her injury, she was unable to compete in the individual finals. She was replaced by highest non-qualifiers in the vault (Miller), in the floor exercise (Dawes) and in the all-around (Moceanu). Strug had the highest score in the floor and would have been favored to win the gold.
Rhythmic
Individual
Athlete
Event
Preliminaries
Semifinal
Final
Apparatus
Total
Apparatus
Total
Apparatus
Total
Rope
Ball
Clubs
Ribbon
Score
Rank
Rope
Ball
Clubs
Ribbon
Score
Rank
Rope
Ball
Clubs
Ribbon
Score
Rank
Jessica Davis
All-around
9.166
9.200
9.216
8.982
36.564
30
Did not advance
Group
Handball
Summary
Men's tournament
Roster
The following players represented the United States:[5] [14]
Preliminary round
Source:
[citation needed ] Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.
(H) Hosts
Ninth place game
Women's tournament
Roster
The following players represented the United States:[5]
Preliminary round
Source:
[citation needed ] Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.
(H) Hosts
Seventh place game
Judo
Men
Women
Modern pentathlon
Athlete
Event
Riding(show jumping)
Fencing(épée one touch)
Shooting(10 m air pistol)
Swimming(200 m freestyle)
Running(3000 m cross-country)
Total
Penalties
Rank
MP Points
Results
Rank
MP Points
Points
Rank
MP Points
Time
Rank
MP Points
Time
Rank
MP Points
Points
Rank
Michael Gostigian
Individual
57
7
1043
15 W – 17 L
=18
790
170
=25
976
3:16.38
5
1304
13:11.327
16
1192
5305
16
Rowing
Men
Women
Qualification legend: FA =Final A (medal); FB =Final B (non-medal); FC =Final C (non-medal); FD =Final D (non-medal); SA/B =Semifinal A/B; SC/D =Semifinal C/D; R =Repechage
Sailing
Men
Women
Open
Fleet racing
Mixed racing
Athlete
Event
Fleet racing
Match racing
Race
Total
Quarterfinal
Semifinal
Final / BM
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Points
Rank
Opposition Result
Opposition Result
Opposition Result
Rank
Jim Barton Jeff Madrigali Kent Massey
Soling
1
4
9
2
5
19
5
9
1
12
36
2 Q
Bye
Russia (RUS) L 0–3
Bronze medal race Great Britain (GBR) W 3–1
Shooting
Men
Women
Softball
Summary
Roster
Defeated Puerto Rico (10:0)
Defeated Netherlands (9:0)
Defeated Japan (6:1)
Defeated Chinese Taipei (10:0)
Defeated Canada (4:2)
Lost to Australia (1:2)
Defeated PR China (3:2)
Swimming
Men
Key: * – Swimmer competed in the heat but not the final; FA – Qualify to A final (medal); FB – Qualify to B final (non-medal)
Women
Key: * – Swimmer competed in the heat but not the final; FA – Qualify to A final (medal); FB – Qualify to B final (non-medal)
Synchronized swimming
Table tennis
Tennis
Men
Athlete
Event
Round of 64
Round of 32
Round of 16
Quarterfinal
Semifinal
Final / BM
Opposition Result
Opposition Result
Opposition Result
Opposition Result
Opposition Result
Opposition Result
Rank
Andre Agassi
Singles
Björkman (SWE ) W 7–6(8–6) , 7–5(7–5)
Kučera (SVK ) W 6–4, 6–4
Gaudenzi (ITA ) W 2–6, 6–4, 6–2
W Ferreira (RSA ) W 7–5, 4–6, 7–5
Paes (IND ) W 7–6(7–5) , 6–3
Bruguera (ESP ) W 6–2, 6–3, 6–1
Richey Reneberg
Paes (IND ) L 7–6(7–2) , 6–7(7–9) , 0–1 r
Did not advance
MaliVai Washington
Krošlák (SVK ) W 6–3, 7–6(7–3)
Ogorodov (UZB ) W 6–3, 6–4
Carlsen (DEN ) W 6–7(8–10) , 6–0, 6–2
Bruguera (ESP ) L 6–7(8–10) , 6–4, 5–7
Did not advance
Andre Agassi MaliVai Washington
Doubles
—
Hernández /Órtiz (MEX ) W 6–3, 4–6, 6–4
E Ferreira /W Ferreira (RSA ) L 5–7, 7–6(7–2) , 0–6
Did not advance
Women
Athlete
Event
Round of 64
Round of 32
Round of 16
Quarterfinal
Semifinal
Final / BM
Opposition Result
Opposition Result
Opposition Result
Opposition Result
Opposition Result
Opposition Result
Rank
Lindsay Davenport
Singles
Kremer (LUX ) W 6–2, 6–1
Sawamatsu (JPN ) W 6–2, 6–2
Huber (GER ) W 6–1, 3–6, 6–3
Majoli (CRO ) W 7–5, 6–3
Fernández (USA ) W 6–2, 7–6(8–6)
Sánchez Vicario (ESP ) W 7–6(10–8) , 6–2
Mary Joe Fernández
Likhovtseva (RUS ) W 6–2, 6–4
Wang (TPE ) W 7–6(7–4) , 2–6, 6–1
Gorrochategui (ARG ) W 6–0, 6–3
Martínez (ESP ) W 3–6, 6–2, 6–3
Davenport (USA ) L 2–6, 6–7(6–8)
Bronze medal final Novotná (CZE ) L 6–7(8–10) , 4–6
4
Monica Seles
Chen (CHN ) W 6–0, 6–4
Hy-Boulais (CAN ) W 6–3, 6–2
Sabatini (ARG ) W 6–3, 6–3
Novotná (CZE ) L 5–7, 6–3, 6–8
Did not advance
Gigi Fernández Mary Joe Fernández
Doubles
—
Bye
Pierce /Tauziat (FRA ) W 6–4, 6–3
Lake /Wood (GBR ) W 6–2, 6–1
Bollegraf /Schultz-McCarthy (NED ) W 7–5, 7–6(7–3)
Novotná /Suková (CZE ) W 7–6(8–6) , 6–4
Volleyball
Beach
Indoor
Summary
Men's tournament
Roster
Preliminary round
Pos
Team
Pld
W
L
Pts
SW
SL
SR
SPW
SPL
SPR
Qualification
1
Cuba
5
4
1
9
12
5
2.400
233
191
1.220
Quarterfinals
2
Brazil
5
3
2
8
10
6
1.667
210
187
1.123
3
Bulgaria
5
3
2
8
10
8
1.250
225
212
1.061
4
Argentina
5
3
2
8
9
9
1.000
222
225
0.987
5
United States
5
2
3
7
10
9
1.111
241
233
1.034
6
Poland
5
0
5
5
1
15
0.067
151
234
0.645
Women
Roster [15]
Preliminary round
Pos
Team
Pld
W
L
Pts
SW
SL
SR
SPW
SPL
SPR
Qualification
1
China
5
5
0
10
15
3
5.000
256
181
1.414
Quarterfinals
2
United States
5
4
1
9
13
5
2.600
241
198
1.217
3
Netherlands
5
3
2
8
10
7
1.429
211
179
1.179
4
South Korea
5
2
3
7
10
9
1.111
249
222
1.122
5
Japan
5
1
4
6
3
12
0.250
158
199
0.794
6
Ukraine
5
0
5
5
0
15
0.000
89
225
0.396
Quarterfinal
5th – 8th semifinal
7th place match
Water polo
Summary
Team
Event
Preliminary round
Classification
Quarterfinal
Semifinal / Pl.
Final / BM / Pl.
Opposition Result
Opposition Result
Opposition Result
Opposition Result
Opposition Result
Rank
Opposition Result
Opposition Result
Opposition Result
Opposition Result
Opposition Result
Opposition Result
Rank
United States men
Men's tournament
Italy L 7–10
Greece W 9–7
Ukraine W 9–7
Romania W 10–5
Croatia W 10–8
2 Q
Bye
Spain L 4–5
5-8 semifinal Greece L 6–7
7th place match FR Yugoslavia W 12–8
7
Roster
The following players represented the United States:[16]
Preliminary round
Quarterfinal
5th-8th classification
7th place match
Weightlifting
Wrestling
See also
Notes
References
^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill ; et al. "United States at the 1996 Summer Games" . Olympics at Sports-Reference.com . Sports Reference LLC . Archived from the original on 2020-04-17. Retrieved 2012-02-21 .
^ United States at the 1996 Summer Olympics
^ Gems, Gerald; Borish, Linda; Pfister, Gertrud (27 February 2017). Sports in American History, 2E: From Colonization to Globalization . ISBN 9781492526520 .
^ Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (2001). Official Report of the XXVII Olympiad (PDF) . Vol. 2: Celebrating the Games. Canberra, Australia: Paragon Printers Australasia. pp. 176–9. ISBN 0-9579616-0-X . Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 March 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2010 .
^ a b c d "United States Basketball at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games" . Sports Reference . Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2018 . Cite error: The named reference "USA" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page ).
^ a b Regulations Cite error: The named reference "Regulations" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page ).
^ "USA – Squad List" . FIFA.com . Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 22 January 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2020 .
^ "U.S. Women: Wilson survives final cut" . Soccer America . 3 July 1996. Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2020 .
^ Vecsey, George (2 August 1996). "Women's Soccer: 76,481 Fans, 1 U.S. Gold" . The New York Times . p. B9. Retrieved 18 January 2020 .
^ Caparaz, Dean (3 July 1996). "U.S. Women: Wilson survives final cut" . Soccer America . Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2022 .
^ "USA - Denmark" . FIFA. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2017 .
^ "Denmark - China PR" . FIFA. Archived from the original on April 29, 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2017 .
^ "USA - China PR" . FIFA. Archived from the original on November 14, 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2017 .
^ 1996 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM FINAL ROSTER . Portland State. 4 August 1996. p. 29.
^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill ; et al. "United States Volleyball at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games" . Olympics at Sports-Reference.com . Sports Reference LLC . Archived from the original on 2020-04-17. Retrieved 2016-03-29 .
^ "United States Water Polo at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games" . Sports Reference . Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2019 .
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