Where Team USA’s Olympian Stars Attended College

The 2024 Olympic Games are well underway in France, and as expected, the United States is leading in overall medals with 20 total, including three gold, eight silver, and nine bronze.

The Olympics not only celebrate some of the most famous athletes like LeBron James, Simone Biles, Katie Ledecky, and Coco Gauff, but they also spotlight lesser-known athletes who have the rare opportunity to shine on the world stage.

In Paris, many American athletes have already become household names overnight thanks to their viral performances and celebrations.

While not every Team USA athlete was a prominent college star, many excelled in their respective sports – or in the case of beach volleyball star Chase Budinger, a different sport altogether.

Below is a look at eight Team USA Olympians making headlines in the early part of the games, and where they went to college:

Kevin Durant – Basketball
College: Texas Longhorns
Event: Men’s Basketball 5×5
Record: 1-0

Breanna Stewart – Basketball
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
College: UConn Huskies
Event: Women’s Basketball 5×5
Record: 1-0

Chase Budinger – Beach Volleyball
Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
College: Arizona Wildcats
Event: Men’s Beach Volleyball
Record: 2-0

Sara Hughes – Beach Volleyball
Louisa Gouliamaki/Reuters via USA TODAY Sports
College: USC Trojans
Event: Women’s Beach Volleyball
Record: 2-0

Caeleb Dressel – Swimming
Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
College: Florida Gators
Event: Men’s Swimming (4x100m, 100m butterfly, 50m freestyle)
Record: Gold in 4x100M Relay

Katie Ledecky – Swimming
Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
College: Stanford Cardinal
Event: Women’s Swimming (400m, 800m, 1500m freestyle, 4x200m relay)
Record: Bronze in 400m Freestyle

Stephen Nedoroscik – Gymnastics
College: Penn State Nittany Lions
Event: Pommel Horse
Record: Bronze Medal

Ilona Maher – Rugby
College: Quinnipiac Bobcats
Event: Women’s 7×7 Rugby
Record: Will compete for Bronze