Going to the Olympics as a participant is a great accomplishment. Winning an Olympic medal is the pinnacle to some. With the 2024 Summer Olympics just around the corner, who from New Jersey is going, and who has a chance to win or place? We also started thinking: Who are some of the greatest Olympians who hail from the Garden State? The MLH project got to work.
Who Will Shine in Paris?
Jersey 2024 Summer Olympians
New Jersey officially has 21 Olympic athletes, according to a list provided by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Among the Jersey Olympians will be world-record-holding track stars like Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone from Dunellen and breakout gymnast phenomenon Hezly Rivera, the 16-year-old from Oradell who is the youngest Olympic athlete to compete in any sport this year. Also competing will be fencing wizards Mitchell Saron from Ridgewood and Elizabeth Tartakovsky from Livingston.
Nic Fink, the Pingry alum, is going back to the Olympics. The swimmer from Morristown qualified for the 2024 Paris Games on Sunday night by winning the 100-meter breaststroke at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Indianapolis. Matt Fallon of Warren, another Pingry alumnus, made his top seed in the event hold-up. Fallon set the American record (2:06.54) while earning his spot on Team USA in the 200 breaststroke. Jack Alexy of Mendham Township also made the swimming Olympic team and will swim the 100-meter freestyle and on Team USA’s 400-meter free relay at the 2024 Olympics, noting that he’s not a “Pingry man”…..he’s a “Delbarton man!”
The person with perhaps the most profound connection to New Jersey (at least in the public’s mind) is equestrian and 2020 Olympic silver medalist Jessica Springsteen, 32. The name gives it away: Her parents are the Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen, and Patti Scialfa. Springsteen has credited her family’s horse farm in Colts Neck for inspiring her lifelong passion for the sport.
Princeton University alone can claim 20 of its competitors. Four more have Rutgers connections.
Past Jersey Olympians
MLH dug in to share 50+ Olympians who hailed from the Garden State. Let us know if you know any of them.
Past New Jersey Olympians, their Jersey hometown, event, Olympic years, and achievements.
Have a Jersey favorite you remember? Let us know in the comments section.
- Carli Lloyd
- Hometown: Delran, New Jersey
- Event: Soccer
- Olympic Years: 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020
- Achievements: Two-time Olympic gold medalist (2008, 2012), bronze medalist (2020).
- Shaun White
- Hometown: Carlsbad, California (grew up in New Jersey)
- Event: Snowboarding
- Olympic Years: 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018
- Achievements: Three-time Olympic gold medalist (2006, 2010, 2018).
- Katelyn Falgowski
- Hometown: Landenberg, Pennsylvania (grew up in New Jersey)
- Event: Field Hockey
- Olympic Years: 2008, 2012
- Achievements: Bronze medalist (2012).
- Jordan Burroughs
- Hometown: Sicklerville, New Jersey
- Event: Wrestling
- Olympic Years: 2012, 2016
- Achievements: Olympic gold medalist (2012).
- Lauryn Williams
- Hometown: Rochester, Pennsylvania (grew up in New Jersey)
- Events: Track and Field (Sprint), Bobsleigh
- Olympic Years: 2004 (Track), 2012 (Track), 2014 (Bobsleigh)
- Achievements: Olympic gold medalist (2012 – Track), silver medalist (2004 – Track, 2012 – Track).
- Ibtihaj Muhammad
- Hometown: Maplewood, New Jersey
- Event: Fencing (Saber)
- Olympic Year: 2016
- Achievements: Olympic bronze medalist (2016).
- Frank Molinaro
- Hometown: Barnegat, New Jersey
- Event: Wrestling
- Olympic Year: 2016
- Achievements: Olympic bronze medalist (2016).
- Dagmara Wozniak
- Hometown: Avenel, New Jersey
- Event: Fencing (Saber)
- Olympic Years: 2008, 2012, 2016
- Achievements: Olympic team bronze medalist (2008).
- Joetta Clark Diggs
- Hometown: East Orange, New Jersey
- Event: Track and Field (800 meters)
- Olympic Years: 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000
- Achievements: Competed in multiple Olympic Games.
- Milt Campbell
- Hometown: Plainfield, New Jersey
- Event: Track and Field (Decathlon)
- Olympic Year: 1952
- Achievements: Olympic gold medalist (1956 – Decathlon).
- Amanda Beard
- Hometown: Irvine, California (born in Newport Beach, raised in New Jersey)
- Event: Swimming
- Olympic Years: 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008
- Achievements: Seven-time Olympic medalist (two gold, four silver, one bronze).
- Ajeé Wilson
- Hometown: Neptune Township, New Jersey
- Event: Track and Field (800 meters)
- Olympic Years: 2016, 2020
- Achievements: Competed in multiple Olympic Games.
- Dennis Mitchell
- Hometown: Haledon, New Jersey
- Event: Track and Field (Sprint)
- Olympic Years: 1988, 1992, 1996
- Achievements: Olympic gold medalist (1992 – 4x100m relay).
- Craig Masback
- Hometown: Plainfield, New Jersey
- Event: Track and Field (Middle-distance)
- Olympic Year: 1980 (boycotted), 1984
- Achievements: Competed in the Olympics in 1984.
- Tobin Heath
- Hometown: Basking Ridge, New Jersey
- Event: Soccer
- Olympic Years: 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020
- Achievements: Two-time Olympic gold medalist (2008, 2012), bronze medalist (2020).
- Gail Marquis
- Hometown: Queens, New York (raised in Montclair, New Jersey)
- Event: Basketball
- Olympic Year: 1976
- Achievements: Olympic silver medalist (1976).
- Lloyd Mangrum
- Hometown: Trenton, New Jersey
- Event: Golf
- Olympic Year: 1952
- Achievements: Olympic bronze medalist (1952).
- Peter Westbrook
- Hometown: Newark, New Jersey
- Event: Fencing (Saber)
- Olympic Years: 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992
- Achievements: Olympic bronze medalist (1984).
- Erin Donohue
- Hometown: Haddonfield, New Jersey
- Event: Track and Field (Middle-distance)
- Olympic Year: 2008
- Achievements: Competed in the Olympics in 2008.
- Dawn Staley
- Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (raised in North Philadelphia and Mays Landing, New Jersey)
- Event: Basketball
- Olympic Years: 1996, 2000, 2004
- Achievements: Three-time Olympic gold medalist (1996, 2000, 2004).
- Rebecca Soni
- Hometown: Freehold Borough, New Jersey
- Event: Swimming
- Olympic Years: 2008, 2012
- Achievements: Six-time Olympic medalist (three gold, one silver, two bronze).
- Steve Vai
- Hometown: Carle Place, New York (grew up in Morristown, New Jersey)
- Event: Archery
- Olympic Year: 1976
- Achievements: Competed in the Olympics in 1976.
- Tom Wilkens
- Hometown: Dover, New Jersey
- Event: Swimming
- Olympic Year: 2000
- Achievements: Olympic bronze medalist (2000).
- Todd Frazier
- Hometown: Toms River, New Jersey
- Event: Baseball
- Olympic Year: 2020 (baseball was reintroduced)
- Achievements: Competed in the 2020 Olympics.
- Lisa Fernandez
- Hometown: Long Beach, California (born in Lakewood, New Jersey)
- Event: Softball
- Olympic Years: 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008
- Achievements: Four-time Olympic gold medalist (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008).
- Gary Hall Jr.
- Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio (moved to New Jersey as a child)
- Event: Swimming
- Olympic Years: 1996, 2000, 2004
- Achievements: Ten-time Olympic medalist (five gold, three silver, two bronze).
- Leah Nugent
- Hometown: Montclair, New Jersey
- Event: Track and Field (Hurdles)
- Olympic Year: 2016
- Achievements: Competed in the Olympics in 2016.
- Andrew Valmon
- Hometown: East Orange, New Jersey
- Event: Track and Field (400 meters, 4×400 meters relay)
- Olympic Years: 1988, 1992, 1996
- Achievements: Two-time Olympic gold medalist (1992 – 4x400m relay, 1996 – 4x400m relay).
- Joetta Clark Diggs
- Hometown: East Orange, New Jersey
- Event: Track and Field (800 meters)
- Olympic Years: 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000
- Achievements: Competed in multiple Olympic Games.
- Marilyn King
- Hometown: Plainfield, New Jersey
- Event: Track and Field (Pentathlon)
- Olympic Year: 1972
- Achievements: Competed in the Olympics in 1972.
- Carl Lewis
- Hometown: Willingboro, New Jersey
- Event: Track and Field (Sprints, Long Jump)
- Olympic Years: 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996
- Achievements: Nine-time Olympic gold medalist (1984, 1988, 1992), one silver medal (1984), two bronze medals (1988).
- Mark Eddiva
- Hometown: Freehold Township, New Jersey
- Event: Swimming
- Olympic Years: 2008
- Achievements: Competed in the Olympics in 2008.
- Irv Hall
- Hometown: Camden, New Jersey
- Event: Rowing
- Olympic Year: 1924
- Achievements: Olympic gold medalist (1924 – Men’s Eight).
- Jamie Van Horn
- Hometown: Denville, New Jersey
- Event: Swimming
- Olympic Year: 1996
- Achievements: Competed in the Olympics in 1996.
- John Smith
- Hometown: Asbury Park, New Jersey
- Event: Track and Field (Long Jump)
- Olympic Year: 1952
- Achievements: Olympic silver medalist (1952).
- Josh Pauls
- Hometown: Green Brook Township, New Jersey
- Event: Ice Sledge Hockey
- Paralympic Years: 2010, 2014, 2018
- Achievements: Three-time Paralympic gold medalist (2010, 2014, 2018).
- John Harkes
- Hometown: Kearny, New Jersey
- Event: Soccer
- Olympic Years: 1988, 1992
- Achievements: Competed in the Olympics in 1988 and 1992.
- Eddie Alvarez
- Hometown: Miami, Florida (raised in Westwood, New Jersey)
- Event: Baseball (2004), Speed Skating (2014, 2018)
- Achievements: Olympic silver medalist (2014 – Short track speed skating).
- Cullen Jones
- Hometown: Irvington, New Jersey
- Event: Swimming
- Olympic Years: 2008, 2012, 2016
- Achievements: Four-time Olympic medalist (two gold, two silver).
- Erin Hamlin
- Hometown: Remsen, New York (born in Springfield, New Jersey)
- Event: Luge
- Olympic Years: 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018
- Achievements: Olympic bronze medalist (2014).
- Ryan Callahan
- Hometown: Rochester, New York (raised in Greece, New York and Cape May, New Jersey)
- Event: Ice Hockey
- Olympic Year: 2010, 2014
- Achievements: Olympic silver medalist (2010).
- Esther Kim
- Hometown: Cliffside Park, New Jersey
- Event: Fencing (Epee)
- Olympic Year: 2020
- Achievements: Competed in the 2020 Olympics.
- Chris Campbell
- Hometown: Westfield, New Jersey
- Event: Wrestling
- Olympic Years: 1976, 1980, 1992
- Achievements: Olympic bronze medalist (1992).
- Lloyd Valberg
- Hometown: Newark, New Jersey
- Event: Figure Skating
- Olympic Year: 1936
- Achievements: Olympic bronze medalist (1936).
- Sarah Scherer
- Hometown: Woburn, Massachusetts (attended college in New Jersey)
- Event: Shooting
- Olympic Year: 2012
- Achievements: Competed in the Olympics in 2012.
- Eddie Eagan
- Hometown: Denver, Colorado (lived in Englewood, New Jersey)
- Event: Boxing (1920), Bobsleigh (1932)
- Achievements: Only athlete to win gold medals in both the Summer and Winter Olympics (1920 – Light heavyweight boxing, 1932 – Four-man bobsleigh).
- Briana Scurry
- Hometown: Dayton, Minnesota (born in Minneapolis, grew up in Dayton, New Jersey)
- Event: Soccer
- Olympic Years: 1996, 2000, 2004
- Achievements: Two-time Olympic gold medalist (1996, 2004).
- Ronald Freeman
- Hometown: Tuckerton, New Jersey
- Event: Track and Field (Sprints)
- Olympic Years: 1964, 1968
- Achievements: Competed in the Olympics in 1964 and 1968.
- Julie Culley
- Hometown: Lebanon Township, New Jersey
- Event: Track and Field (Distance)
- Olympic Year: 2012
- Achievements: Competed in the Olympics in 2012.
- Tom Dolan
- Hometown: Arlington, Virginia (born in Lakewood, New Jersey)
- Event: Swimming
- Olympic Years: 1996, 2000
- Achievements: Two-time Olympic gold medalist (1996 – 400m Individual Medley, 1996 – 200m Individual Medley).
- Glen Davis
- Hometown: Long Branch, New Jersey
- Event: Track and Field (400 meters, 4×400 meters relay)
- Olympic Years: 1952, 1956
- Achievements: Two-time Olympic gold medalist (1952 – 400m, 1956 – 4x400m relay).
- Edwin Moses
- Hometown: Dayton, Ohio (attended college in Plainfield, New Jersey)
- Event: Track and Field (400 meters hurdles)
- Olympic Years: 1976, 1984
- Achievements: Two-time Olympic gold medalist (1976, 1984).
- Tara Lipinski
- Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (moved to Mount Laurel, New Jersey)
- Event: Figure Skating
- Olympic Year: 1998
- Achievements: Olympic gold medalist (1998).
- Renee Montgomery
- Hometown: St. Albans, West Virginia (attended high school in New Jersey)
- Event: Basketball
- Olympic Year: 2020 (as part of the coaching staff)
- Achievements: Olympic gold medalist (2020, as assistant coach).
- Jenny Thompson
- Hometown: Danvers, Massachusetts (attended college in Dover, New Jersey)
- Event: Swimming
- Olympic Years: 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004
- Achievements: Eight-time Olympic gold medalist (12 total medals – eight gold, three silver, one bronze).
- Jadon Sancho
- Hometown: London, England (lived in Kenilworth, New Jersey)
- Event: Soccer
- Olympic Year: 2020
- Achievements: Olympic bronze medalist (2020).
- Mia Hamm
- Hometown: Selma, Alabama (moved to Basking Ridge, New Jersey)
- Event: Soccer
- Olympic Years: 1996, 2000, 2004
- Achievements: Two-time Olympic gold medalist (1996, 2004), silver medalist (2000).
- Jim Thorpe
- Hometown: Prague, Oklahoma (attended college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania; lived in Mount Vernon, New Jersey)
- Event: Athletics
- Olympic Year: 1912
- Achievements: Olympic gold medalist (Pentathlon, Decathlon).
- Trenton Bourguet
- Hometown: San Diego, California (attended Rutgers University in New Jersey)
- Event: Water Polo
- Olympic Year: 2024
- Achievements: Competed in the 2024 Olympics.
- Gianna Schiavone
- Hometown: Clifton, New Jersey
- Event: Gymnastics (Rhythmic)
- Olympic Year: 2020 (postponed to 2021)
- Achievements: Competed in the 2020 Olympics.
More Fun Jersey History
Please remember Bill Miller, born in Lawnside, NJ, silver medal, javelin, 1952. Thanks https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78792