Category Archives: Uncategorized

Saori Yoshida and Kaori Icho – The Rio Possibles

Saori Yoshida will compete in Olympic wrestling for Japan at her 4th Olympics. Yoshida won gold medals in 55 kg freestyle wrestling in 2004, 2008, and 2012. She has never lost an international competition. In addition to her 3 Olympic golds, she has won every World Championship since 2002, winning 13 titles, and four golds at the Asian Games in 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014. She has lost only 2 matches since 2002, her last in 2012. Because of new weight classes in Rio, she will compete in the 53 kg class.

Yoshida’s teammate, Kaori Icho, has been almost as dominant as Yoshida. She won gold medals in Olympic wrestling in the 63 kg freestyle class in 2004, 2008, and 2012, and has won 10 World Championships, and the 2006 Asian Games gold medal. Icho was undefeated from 2003-16, but lost a Grand Prix match in January 2016.

Here is what they can achieve with another gold medal in wrestling at Rio.

If They Win Gold in Rio, Saori Yoshida and/or Kaori Icho Will …

  • Become the first Olympic wrestlers, male or female, to win 4 gold medals. With 4 gold medals, they are currently tied with 6 men – Aleksandr Karelin (URS/EUN/RUS), Artur Taymazov (UZB), Aleksandr Medved (URS), Ivar Johansson (SWE), Buvaisa Saytiyev (RUS), and Carl Westergren (SWE).
  • Become the first woman to win 4 Olympic medals in wrestling, although the sport has only been on the Olympic Program since 2004. Wilfried Dietrich (FRG/GER) won 5 Olympic wrestling medals, while 7 men have won 4 wrestling medals.
  • Tie for 7th among Olympic women in any sport, with 4 individual gold medals. They would trail Věra Čáslavská (TCH-GYM), with 7; Larysa Latynina (URS-GYM) and Lidiya Skoblikova (URS-SSK), with 6; and Nadia Comăneci (ROU-SWI), Krisztina Egerszegi (HUN-SWI), and Bonnie Blair (USA-SSK), with 5.
  • Become the first women to win individual gold medals at 4 consecutive Olympic Games. Yoshida and Icho are currently tied at 3 among 14 such women.
  • Move to =4th on the list of women winning medals at the most consecutive Olympics. The list is led by Birgit Fischer-Schmidt (GDR/GER-CAN), with 6, who won medals in 1980 and 1988-2004. That would have been an all-time Olympic best 7 had East Germany not boycotted the 1984 Olympics. Two women have won gold medals at 5 Olympics – Valentina Vezzali (ITA-FEN), consecutively from 1996-2012 (and she can extend this when she competes in Rio); and Elisabeta Oleniuc-Lipă (ROU-ROW) in 1984, and 1992-2004.
  • Become the 4th and/or 5th Olympians to win 4 consecutive individual gold medals in the “same” event. The others are Paul Elvstrøm (DEN-SAI) in one-handed dinghy yachting from 1948-60 (although the 1948 class was slightly different); Al Oerter (USA-ATH) in the discus throw; and Carl Lewis (USA-ATH) in the long jump. Now “same” is in quotes because Yoshida’s class will change slightly in Rio, moving from 55 kg to 53 kg. Spare me that argument. In addition, one could include Ray Ewry (USA-ATH), who won four consecutive titles in standing high jump and standing long jump from 1900-08, but that includes the 1906 Olympics.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce – The Rio Possibles

By winning 100 metre and 4×100 metre relay gold medals at Rio de Janeiro in 2016, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce would set several Olympic records and bests. The following details which records Fraser-Pryce may achieve in Rio.

If She Wins a Gold Medal in the 100 metres in Rio, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Will …

  • Become the first woman to win 3 consecutive individual gold medals in track & field athletics. Previously this has only been accomplished by Evelyn Ashford in the 4×100 relay, and Sanya Richards-Ross in the 4×400 relay. (Reader Phil Minshull has noted, correctly, that Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) would beat SAFP to this distinction if she wins the women’s 10K, which is held the day before the women’s 100 final.)
  • Become the 7th woman to win 3 consecutive individual gold medals in any Summer Olympic event. The previous six were: Larysa Latynina (URS-GYM / floor exercise, 1956-64); Dawn Fraser (AUS-SWI / 100 m freestyle, 1956-64); Krisztina Egerszegi (HUN-SWI / 200 m backstroke, 1988-96); Anky van Grunsven (NED-EQU / individual dressage, 2000-08); Saori Yoshida (JPN-WRE / 55 kg freestyle, 2004-12); and Kaori Icho (JPN-WRE / 63 kg freestyle, 2004-12). (Again, note disclaimer above re Tirunesh Dibaba.)
  • Equal the record for individual gold medals in Olympic athletics by women, with 3. Seven women have won 3 individual gold medals in Olympic athletics. They were: Fanny Blankers-Koen (NED / 1948); Betty Cuthbert (AUS / 1956/64); Tamara Press (URS / 1960-64); Tatyana Kazankina (URS / 1976-80); Jackie Joyner-Kersee (USA / 1988-92); Marie-Josée Péréc (FRA / 1992-96); and Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH / 2008-12).

If She Wins Two Gold Medals in Rio, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Will …

  • Equal the record for most gold medals in Olympic athletics by a women, with 4. Six women have previously won 4 Olympic athletics gold medals, as follows: Fanny Blankers-Koen (NED / 1948); Betty Cuthbert (AUS / 1956/64); Barbel Eckert-Wöckel (GDR / 1976-80); Evelyn Ashford (USA / 1984-92); Sanya Richards-Ross (USA / 2004-12); and Allyson Felix (USA / 2004-12). It should be noted that Felix will compete in the 400 metres and 4×400 relay in Rio, and could extend that record.
  • Equal the record for most medals in Olympic athletics by a woman, with 7. The record is held by Shirley Strickland de la Hunty (AUS / 1948-56); Irena Szewińska-Kirszenstein (POL / 1964-76); and Veronica Campbell-Brown (JAM / 2000-12). VCB will compete in Rio and could extend this record, as could Allyson Felix (USA), who has 6 medals going into Rio.

Ryan Lochte – The Rio Possibles

During his career, Ryan Lochte has been somewhat overshadowed by Michael Phelps, but Lochte still has a chance to set several Olympic bests. The following details his current standings on the various Olympic lists, and what he can/will achieve with his performances in Rio.

By Competing in Rio, Ryan Lochte Will …

  • Appear in his 4th Olympics, equalling the @TeamUSA record for men swimmers, currently held by Michael Phelps and Jason Lezak, but Phelps will compete in his 5th Olympics in Rio, equalling the USA record currently held by Dara Torres.

If He Wins a Medal in Rio, Ryan Lochte Will …

  • Win his 12th Olympic medal, moving into 2nd among US men, in any sport, trailing only Michael Phelps, who will enter Rio with 22. Lochte will also equal three American female swimmers who have won 12 medals – Jenny Thompson, Dara Torres, and Natalie Coughlin.
  • Move into 2nd among all male Olympic swimmers, trailing only Phelps. Lochte’s pre-Rio total of 11 Olympic swimming medals ties him with Mark Spitz and Matt Biondi, among men, but also trails Thompson, Torres, and Coughlin, who are 2nd on the overall list behind Phelps.
  • Move into 7th among all male Olympians, with 12 medals, and that total of 12 medals will move him to 8th overall, among all Olympians, in any sport.
  • With an individual medal, move to 8th on the oldest individual medalist list in swimming. Lochte will turn 32 two days before the Rio Opening Ceremony. He is about 11 months older than Phelps.

If He Wins Two or More Medals in Rio, Ryan Lochte …

  • Will move into a tie for 4th place among all Olympians, with 13 medals, trailing only Phelps (22), Larysa Latynina (URS-GYM) (18), and Nikolay Andrianov (URS-GYM) (15). With 13 medals, Lochte would tie 4 other male Olympians – Ole Einar Bjørndalen (NOR-BIA), Borys Shakhlin (URS-GYM), Edoardo Mangiarotti (ITA-FEN), and Takashi Ono (JPN-GYM). Lochte would also move into second among @TeamUSA Olympians, trailing only Michael Phelps.
  • Could move into lone 4th place, with 14 medals, if he wins 3 medals.
  • May become the 4th Olympian to win at least 4 full sets of medals (4+ gold, 4+ silver, 4+ bronze), if he wins a silver and a bronze medal. This has previously been done only by Larysa Latynina (URS-GYM) (9-5-4), Takashi Ono (JPN-GYM) (5-4-4), and Dara Torres (USA-SWI) (4-4-4).

If He Wins a Gold Medal in Rio, Ryan Lochte …

  • Would win his 6th gold medal, and move to =14th among all male Olympians.
  • Would win his 6th gold medal, and move to =7th among all @TeamUSA Olympians.
  • Would win his 6th gold medal, and move to =6th among all @TeamUSA male Olympians.
  • Would win his 6th gold medal in swimming, and move to 4th among male Olympic swimmers, trailing Michael Phelps (18), Mark Spitz (9), and Matt Biondi (8). He would thus also be 4th among US male Olympic swimmers.
  • Would win his 6th gold medal in swimming, and move to 5th among Olympic swimmers, trailing Michael Phelps (18), Mark Spitz (9), Matt Biondi (8), and Jenny Thompson (8). He would thus also be 5th among US Olympic swimmers.
  • Could, with an individual gold medal, become the oldest individual gold medalist in swimming, currently held by Inge de Bruijn (NED-2004), who was 30-363 in the 50 free. Lochte will turn 32 two days before the Rio Opening Ceremony.
  • Could, with any gold medal, move to 3rd on the oldest gold medalist list in swimming, trailing only 2 @TeamUSA swimmers – Dara Torres, who was 33-162 in the 2000 medley relay; and Jason Lezak, who was 32-279 in the 2008 medley relay. Lochte will turn 32 two days before the Rio Opening Ceremony.

Kerri Walsh-Jennings – The Rio Possibles

Kerri Walsh-Jennings will be competing in beach volleyball at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She has won gold medals in the sport at the last three Olympics, although partnered by Misty May-Treanor, who has since retired. This time Walsh-Jennings (who previously competed at the Olympics only as Kerri Walsh) will be alongside April Ross. The following details which records Walsh-Jennings may achieve in Rio.

If She Wins a Gold Medal in Rio, Kerri Walsh-Jennings will …

  • Win her 4th gold medal in beach volleyball, becoming only the 8th woman to win 4 gold medals in the same event – after Birgit Fischer-Schmidt (GDR/GER) in kayak fours canoeing (1988, 1996-2004); Isabelle Werth (FRG) in team dressage in equestrian (1992-2000, 2008); Teresa Edwards (USA) in basketball (1984-88, 1996-2000); Lisa Leslie (USA) in basketball (1996-2008); and Jayna Hefford, Hayley Wickenheiser, Caroline Ouellette (CAN) in ice hockey (all 2002-14).
  • Become the 5th woman to win 4 consecutive gold medals in the same Olympic event, equalling Lisa Leslie (USA) in basketball, and Jayna Hefford, Hayley Wickenheiser, Caroline Ouellette (CAN) in ice hockey.
  • Become the 2nd USA woman to win 4 consecutive gold medals in the same Summer Olympic event, equalling Lisa Leslie in basketball.
  • Become =4th among all Olympians, any sport, either gender, by winning 4 gold medals in the same event, trailing only Aladár Gerevich (HUN) in team sabre fencing, with 6; and Reiner Klimke (FRG/GER) in team dressage in equestrian, with 5, and Pál Kovács (HUN) in team sabre fencing.
  • Of note, three women on the 2016 USA Olympic basketball team – Sue Bird, Tamika Catchings, and Diana Taurasi – may also win their 4th consecutive gold medals, matching the above most gold medal records.
  • Become the oldest Olympic gold medalist in beach volleyball. Walsh-Jennings will celebrate her 38th birthday 2 days before the women’s final in Rio, making her 38-002 if she wins gold. The oldest previous gold medalist was another American, volleyball legend Karch Kiraly, who was 35-267 when he won beach volleyball gold in 1996. The oldest previous female gold  medalist was Australian Kerri-Ann Pottharst, who was 35-092 when she won in 2000. Simply by competing, Walsh-Jennings will become the 4th oldest female competitor in Olympic beach volleyball, trailing Pottharst, and Americans Gail Castro (1996 / 38-254) and Elaine Youngs (2008 / 38-176).

Katie Ledecky – The Rio Possibles

Katie Ledecky has “only” one Olympic gold medal, that in the 2012 800 metre freestyle. However, her performances at the 2014 Pan Pacs and 2015 World Championships, and her multiple world record swims over the past 3 years, portend well for what she may achieve in Rio. She will swim the 200, 400, and 800 freestyles, the 4×200 freestyle relay, and has a remote possibility to swim the 4×100 freestyle relays. She will be heavily favored in the 400 and 800 freestyles, and probably a co-favorite in the 200 free. The USA will likely be favored in the 4×200 freestyle relay, but are longshots to win the 4×100 free relay, as Australia will be a heavy favorite in that event. Here are some of the swimming records that Ledecky could chase in the pool at Rio de Janeiro.

If She Wins One Individual Gold Medal in Rio, Katie Ledecky Will …

  • Become the 6th American woman to win individual swimming gold medals at 2 Olympics, after Martha Norelius (1924/1928), Janet Evans (1988/1992), Brooke Bennett (1996/2000), Natalie Coughlin (2004/2008), and Rebecca Soni (2008/2012).

If She Wins Two Individual Gold Medals in Rio, Katie Ledecky Will …

  • Move to =2nd among @TeamUSA female swimmers with 3 individual gold medals, trailing only Janet Evans, who won 4 in 1988-92. Ledecky would tie Debbie Meyer (1968) and Brooke Bennett (1996-2000).
  • Move to =6th among all Olympic female swimmers with 3 individual gold medals. The record is 5, held by Hungarian Krisztina Egerszegi, while 4 females have won 4 individual Olympic swimming golds – Janet Evans (USA), Kristin Otto (GDR), Inge de Bruijn (NED), and Yana Klochkova (UKR).

If She Wins Three Gold Medals in Rio, Katie Ledecky Will …

  • Move to =3rd among USA female swimmers with 4 Olympic gold medals, trailing Jenny Thompson (8), Amy Van Dyken (6), and tieing Janet Evans, Dara Torres, Missy Franklin, and Dana Vollmer.
  • Move to =4th among @TeamUSA Olympians, any sport, with 4 Olympic gold medals, trailing Thompson and Van Dyken, as above, and tied with 12 other USA women.
  • Move to =3rd among @TeamUSA Olympians, any sport, with 3 Olympic golds at one Olympics, trailing only swimmers Missy Franklin (2012) and Amy Van Dyken (1996), with 4 each, and tied with 22 other USA women, including 17 swimmers.

If She Wins Three Individual Gold Medals (200-400-800 free) in Rio, Katie Ledecky Will …

  • Move to =7th among all female Olympians (any sport) with the most individual gold medals with 4. The record is 7 by Věra Čáslavská (TCH) in gymnastics, with Larysa Latynina (URS-GYM) and Lidiya Skoblikova (URS-SSK) having won 6 individual golds.
  • Tie Debbie Meyer (1968) and Janet Evans (1988) among US female swimmers with 3 individual gold medals at a single Olympic Games.
  • Tie Janet Evans (SWI) and Pat McCormick (DIV) among summer female US Olympians (any sport) with 4 individual gold medals. Among @TeamUSA Olympians, Ledecky would trail only Bonnie Blair, who won 5 individual gold medals in speed skating at the Winter Olympics.
  • Move to =2nd among all Olympic female swimmers with 4 individual gold medals, trailing only Hungarian Krisztina Egerszegi, who has won 5. Four females have won 4 individual Olympic swimming golds – Janet Evans (USA), Kristin Otto (GDR), Inge de Bruijn (NED), and Yana Klochkova (UKR).

If She Wins Four Gold Medals in Rio, Katie Ledecky Will …

  • Move to =4th among female Olympic swimmers with 5 gold medals. The record is 8, held by Jenny Thompson (USA), with Kristin Otto (GDR) and Amy Van Dyken (USA) having won 6.
  • Move to =2nd among all female Olympians (any sport) with 4 gold medals at a single Games. The record is 6 by Kristin Otto in 1988, with 9 other women having won 4 golds at one Olympics, including two @TeamUSA swimmers, Amy Van Dyken (1996) and Missy Franklin (2012).

It’s Unlikely, But If She Wins Five Gold Medals in Rio, Katie Ledecky Will …

  • Trail only Kristin Otto, the only woman to win 6 gold medals at one Olympic Games (swimming-1988). No other woman has won more than 4 at one Games. Ledecky would move to =5th all-time in any sport, also trailing the following men: Michael Phelps (8 in 2008, 6 in 2004), Mark Spitz (7 in 1972), and Vitaly Shcherbo (6 for EUN in gymnastics in 1992).
  • Move to =5th among all female Olympians (any sport) with 6 gold medals. The leaders in this category are Larysa Latynina (URS-GYM) with 9, followed by Birgit Fischer-Schmidt (GDR/GER-CAN) and Jenny Thompson (USA-SWI) with 8, and Věra Čáslavská (TCH-GYM) with 7. Ledecky, with 6, would tie Amy Van Dyken (SWI) for second place among @TeamUSA women.

Bradley Wiggins – The Rio Possibles

By competing at Rio de Janeiro in 2016, cyclist Bradley Wiggins has a chance to set several Olympic bests. Wiggins will compete in the team pursuit on the track. The following details his current standings on the various Olympic lists, and what he can/will achieve with his performance in Rio.

By Competing in Rio, Bradley Wiggins Will …

  • Tie 8 other men with 5 Olympic cycling appearances, trailing only Juan Esteban Curuchet (ARG/1984-2008) and Stuart O’Grady (AUS/1992-2012), with 6 each. Three women have competed in 5 Olympic cycling competitions, but the Olympic record is held by Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli, who competed in 7 Olympics in cycling from 1984-2008.

If He Wins a Medal in Rio, Bradley Wiggins Will …

  • Win his 8th Olympic cycling medal, which will be the most ever. Wiggins is currently tied for 1st with Chris Hoy, his former British teammate who has now retired, both with 7 Olympic medals.
  • Become the first Olympic cyclist to win medals at 5 Olympic Games. Wiggins has won medals in 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012. He is tied with medals at 4 Olympic Games in cycling with Daniel Morelon (FRA/1964-76), Jens Fiedler (GER/1992-2004), and Chris Hoy (GBR/2000-12).

If He Wins a Gold Medal in Rio, Bradley Wiggins Will …

  • Win his 5th Olympic cycling gold medal, and move into lone 2nd place on that list, trailing only Chris Hoy (GBR), who won 6 Olympic gold medals. Wiggins is currently tied with 4 cycling gold medals with Marcus Hurley (USA-1904) and Leontien Zijlaard-van Moorsel (NED-2000/2004).
  • Become the first Olympic cyclist to win gold medals at 4 Olympic Games. He is currently tied with gold medals at 3 Olympic Games in cycling with Vyacheslav Yekimov (URS/RUS-1988/2000/2004), Jens Fiedler (GER-1992/1996/2004), and Chris Hoy (GBR-2004/2008/2012).
  • Become the 8th oldest male gold medalist in cycling, at about 36 years, 105 days.

Bird – Catchings – Taurasi – The Rio Possibles

The United States women have won the last 5 gold medals in basketball, and 7 of the last 8, missing only in 1992. Three US players – Sue Bird, Tamika Catchings, and Diana Taurasi (BCT) – played on the last 3 gold medal winning teams. They are all on the US team for Rio, and could win their 4th consecutive gold medals in the sport. If they do …

If They Win a Gold Medal in Rio, BCT will …

  • Win their 4th gold medal in basketball, becoming only the 8th-9th-10th women to win 4 gold medals in the same event – after Birgit Fischer-Schmidt (GDR/GER) in kayak fours canoeing (1988, 1996-2004); Isabelle Werth (FRG) in team dressage in equestrian (1992-2000, 2008); Teresa Edwards (USA) in basketball (1984-88, 1996-2000); Lisa Leslie (USA) in basketball (1996-2008); and Jayna Hefford, Hayley Wickenheiser, Caroline Ouellette (CAN) in ice hockey (all 2002-14).
  • Become the 5th-6th-7th women to win 4 consecutive gold medals in the same Olympic event, equalling Lisa Leslie (USA) in basketball, and Jayna Hefford, Hayley Wickenheiser, Caroline Ouellette (CAN) in ice hockey.
  • Become the 5th-6th-7th Olympians to win 4 consecutive gold medals in the same Olympic team sport, equalling Leslie, Hefford, Wickenheiser, and Ouellette, as noted above. No male Olympian has achieved this.
  • Become the 2nd-3rd-4th USA women to win 4 consecutive gold medals in the same Summer Olympic event, equalling Lisa Leslie in basketball.
  • Tie Lisa Leslie and Teresa Edwards for the most Olympic gold medals in basketball, man or woman, with 4.
  • Become =4th among all Olympians, any sport, either gender, by winning 4 gold medals in the same event, trailing only Aladár Gerevich (HUN) in team sabre fencing, with 6; and Reiner Klimke (FRG/GER) in team dressage in equestrian, with 5, and Pál Kovács (HUN) in team sabre fencing.
  • Of note, Kerri Walsh-Jennings (USA) may also win her 4th consecutive gold medal in beach volleyball, matching some of the above most gold medal records.

Allyson Felix – The Rio Possibles

Allyson Felix will compete at her 4th Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Felix was attempting to win the 200-400 metre double, which has only been done previously by Valerie Brisco-Hooks (USA-1984), Michael Johnson (USA-1996), and Marie-José Pérec (FRA-1996), but she did not qualify in the 200, obviating that chance. Felix will likely also run relays for the United States, certainly in the 4×4 and possibly in the 4×100, most likely in a heat, giving her 3 possible chances at medals and gold medals. Here are the possible things she can achieve:

If She Wins One Medal in Rio, Allyson Felix Will …

  • Win her 7th Olympic medal, moving her ahead of Jackie Joyner-Kersee among @TeamUSA women. With 6 medals, Felix and Joyner-Kersee currently have the most medals of any American women in track & field athletics.
  • Move into a tie for 2nd among all women, with 7 Olympic medals in track & field athletics. The current record is 9 by Merlene Ottey (JAM), with 3 women having won 7 medals – Irena Szewinska-Kirszenstein (POL), Shirley Strickland-de la Hunty (AUS), and Veronica Campbell-Brown (VCB) (JAM). Of note, VCB will compete at Rio in the 200 metres and likely the 4×100 relay, and could extend her own mark.
  • Move into a tie for 5th among all US women in any sport, with 7 Olympic medals. Three US swimmers have won 12 Olympic medals – Dara Torres, Jenny Thompson, and Natalie Coughlin; while Shirley Babashoff stands 4th among US women with 8 Olympic swimming medals.

If She Wins Two Medals in Rio, Allyson Felix Will …

  • Move into 2nd among all women in track & field athletics, with 8 medals, trailing only Merlene Ottey (JAM), who has 9. However, please see the note above about Veronica Campbell-Brown.
  • Move into a tie for 4th among US women in any sport, with 8 Olympic medals. Three US swimmers have won 12 Olympic medals – Dara Torres, Jenny Thompson, and Natalie Coughlin. Felix will tie Shirley Babashoff, who currently stands 4th among US women with 8 Olympic swimming medals.

If She Wins Three Medals in Rio, Allyson Felix Will …

  • Move into a tie for 1st among all women in track & field athletics, with 9 medals, equalling Merlene Ottey (JAM).
  • Move into a tie for 3rd among all track & field athletes, with 9 medals, trailing only Paavo Nurmi (FIN) with 12, and Carl Lewis (USA) with 10. Counting the 1906 Olympics, Felix would also trail Ray Ewry (USA) with 10 (8, not including 1906) and equal Martin Sheridan (USA) with 9 (4, not including 1906).
  • Move into 4th among all US women in any sport, with 9 Olympic medals. Three US swimmers have won 12 Olympic medals – Dara Torres, Jenny Thompson, and Natalie Coughlin. Felix would surpass Shirley Babashoff, who currently stands 4th among US women with 8 Olympic swimming medals. With 9 medals, Felix would move into a tie for 36th among all Olympians, including all sports.

If She Wins One Gold Medal in Rio, Allyson Felix Will …

  • Win her 5th Olympic gold medal in athletics, which would be the most ever by a woman. With 4 Olympic golds in athletics, Felix currently is tied with Evelyn Ashford (USA), Sanya Richards-Ross (USA), Fanny Blankers-Koen (NED), Betty Cuthbert (AUS), and Bärbel Eckert-Wöckel (GDR).
  • Move into a tie for 5th among all Olympic track & field athletes, with 5 gold medals. Felix would trail Paavo Nurmi (FIN) and Carl Lewis (USA), with 9; Ray Ewry (USA), with 8 (10, including 1906); and Usain Bolt (JAM), with 6, although he may extend that mark in Rio. Felix would tie Ville Ritola (FIN) and Martin Sheridan (USA), who won 5 gold medals, although Sheridan won only 3, if one excludes 1906.
  • Move into a tie for 3rd among US female Olympians, in any sport, with 5 gold medals. The @TeamUSA record is held by Jenny Thompson (SWI), with 8, while Amy Van Dyken (SWI) has won 6, and Bonnie Blair (SSK) has won 5, with Blair winning hers at the Winter Olympics.

If She Wins a Gold Medal in the 4×400 in Rio, Allyson Felix Will …

  • Equal the mark of Evelyn Ashford (USA) and Sanya Richards-Ross (USA), as the only women to win three Olympic gold medals in the same event in track & field athletics, with Ashford doing so in the 4×100 relay and Richards-Ross in the 4×400. Note that Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM) would also equal this mark if she wins the 100 metres in Rio.

If She Wins Two Gold Medals in Rio, Allyson Felix Will …

  • Move into a tie for 5th among all women, in any sport, with 6 gold medals. The Olympic best is held by Larysa Latynina (URS-GYM) with 9, followed by Birgit Fischer-Schmidt (GDR/GER-CAN) and Jenny Thompson (USA-SWI) with 8, and Věra Čáslavská (TCH) with 7.
  • Move into a tie for 5th among all Olympic track & field athletes, with 6 gold medals. Felix would trail Paavo Nurmi (FIN) and Carl Lewis (USA), with 9; Ray Ewry (USA), with 8 (10, including 1906); and equal Usain Bolt (JAM), with 6, although he may extend that mark in Rio.
  • Move into a tie for 2nd among US female Olympians, in any sport, with 6 gold medals. The @TeamUSA record is held by Jenny Thompson (SWI), with 8, while Felix would tie Amy Van Dyken (SWI), who has won 6.
  • Move into a tie for 5th among all female Olympians, in any sport, with 6 gold medals. Felix would still trail Larysa Latynina (URS-GYM) with 9, Birgit Fischer-Schmidt (GDR/GER-CAN) and Jenny Thompson (USA-SWI) with 8 each, and Věra Čáslavská (TCH-GYM) with 7. Six women have won 6 Olympic gold medals, three in the Winter Games and three in the Summer Games: Marit Bjørgen (NOR-CCS), Lyubov Yegorova (EUN/RUS-CCS), Lidiya Skoblikova (URS-SSK), Valentina Vezzali (ITA-FEN), Kristin Otto (GDR-SWI), and Amy Van Dyken (USA-SWI).

If She Wins Three Gold Medals in Rio, Allyson Felix Will …

  • Move into a tie for 4th among all women, in any sport, with 7 gold medals. The Olympic best is held by Larysa Latynina (URS-GYM) with 9, followed by Birgit Fischer-Schmidt (GDR/GER-CAN) and Jenny Thompson (USA-SWI) with 8, while Felix would tie Věra Čáslavská (TCH) who has 7.
  • Move into a tie for 4th among all Olympic track & field athletes, with 7 gold medals. Felix would trail Paavo Nurmi (FIN) and Carl Lewis (USA), with 9; and Ray Ewry (USA), with 8 (10, including 1906). Usain Bolt (JAM) has 6 gold medals entering Rio and may well improve upon that mark.
  • Move into 2nd among US female Olympians, in any sport, with 7 gold medals. The @TeamUSA record is held by Jenny Thompson, who won 8 gold medals in swimming.
  • Move into a tie for 4th among all female Olympians, in any sport, with 7 gold medals. Felix would still trail Larysa Latynina (URS-GYM) with 9, Birgit Fischer-Schmidt (GDR/GER-CAN) and Jenny Thompson (USA-SWI) with 8 each, and equal Věra Čáslavská (TCH-GYM) with 7.
  • Move into a tie for 13th among all Olympians, all sports, with 7 gold medals.

Kim Rhode – The Rio Possibles

By competing at Rio de Janeiro in 2016, Kim Rhode will set several Olympic records and bests, both USA and international. Further, should she win a medal, or a gold medal, she will also set several Olympic records and bests. The following details her current standings on the various Olympic lists, and what she can/will achieve with her performance in Rio.

By Competing in Rio, Kim Rhode Will …

  • Become the first American female shooter to compete in 6 Olympic Games – the overall record is 7 by Nino Salukvadze (URS/EUN/GEO), who will compete in Rio; and by Jasna Šekarić (IOA/SCG/SRB/YUG), who also may compete in Rio. Rhode already holds the American mark of 5 appearances by a female in Olympic shooting.
  • Become the second American shooter to compete in 6 Olympics Games, after Bill McMillan, who competed in 1952/1960/1964/1968/1972/1976, and who died in 2000.
  • Become the second American female to compete in 6 Olympic Games, after Janice York-Romary, who competed in fencing consecutively from 1948-68.
  • Move to =10th on the list of females competing in the most Olympic Games, although this will likely change dramatically as 13 women competed in their 6th Olympics at London in 2012, and 29 women competed in their 5th Olympics in 2012.

If She Wins One Medal in Rio, Kim Rhode Will …

  • Win her 6th medal, the most ever by a woman in Olympic shooting. Rhode is currently tied with 5 medals with three other women – Jasna Šekarić (IOA/SCG/SRB/YUG); Marina Dobrancheva-Logvinenko (EUN/RUS/URS); and Mariya Grozdeva (BUL).
  • Equal the Olympic “modern” shooting record with 6 medals, currently held by Chinese male shooter Wang Yifu, who won 6 medals in 1984-2004. “Modern” record is of some importance. Most of the Olympic records for medals won in shooting are still held by shooters from 1908-24, because in those years there were multiple events, including team events. After shooting was excluded from the Olympics in 1928, it returned in 1932 with a drastically reduced program. The overall Olympic shooting record is 11 medals by Carl Osburn (USA), who competed in 1912/1920/1924.
  • Move to =7th among all female Olympians with 6 individual medals. All of Rhode’s medals have been won in individual events.
  • Tie Jackie Joyner-Kersee (ATH) for the most individual Olympic medals among @TeamUSA Olympians, with 6. Rhode’s 5 individual medals is currently tied with 5 other @TeamUSA Olympians – Shirley Babashoff (SWI), Janet Evans (SWI), Shannon Miller (GYM), Amanda Beard (SWI), and Natalie Coughlin (SWI).
  • Win a medal in her 6th Olympic Games, which would tie the mark for female Olympians (any sport), currently held by Birgit Fischer-Schmidt (GDR/GER-CAN), Anky van Grunsven (NED-EQU), and Elisabeta Oleniuc-Lipă (ROU-ROW).
  • Tie the female record for most years between individual Olympic medals with 20, held by Merlene Ottey (JAM-ATH; 1980-2000) and Nino Salukvadze (URS/GEO-SHO, 1988-2008) (who will compete in Rio). Rhode currently stands =3rd on this list with 7 other women.
  • Become the 2nd oldest American female shooting medalist, trailing only Ruby Fox, who was aged 38-353 when she won a silver medal in sport pistol in 1984. Rhode will turn 37 about 3 weeks before the Rio Olympics start.

If She Wins One Gold Medal in Rio, Kim Rhode Will …

  • Win her 4th gold medal, which would be a “modern” Olympic shooting record. Overall, 6 men have won 5 Olympic shooting gold medals, and 4 men have won 4 Olympic shooting golds, but all of them competed in the Olympic shooting “golden era” from 1908-24, when there were numerous events, including team events. Currently Rhode’s 3 gold medals is the most won since WW2, tied with Ralf Schumann (GDR/GER) from 1992-2004 and Korean Jin Jong-O in 2008-12. Rhode’s 3 golds is an Olympic female shooting record, in any era (women could not compete in Olympic shooting prior to 1968).
  • Tie Janet Evans (SWI) and Pat McCormick (DIV) for the most individual gold medals won by a @TeamUSA woman at the Summer Olympics. The overall record for @TeamUSA is held by Bonnie Blair who won 5 individual gold medals in speed skating at the Winter Olympics.
  • Win a gold medal in her 4th Olympic Games, which among Summer female Olympians, would move her to =4th on the all-sports list, currently led by Birgit Fischer-Schmidt (GDR/GER-CAN) with 6, and Valentina Vezzali (ITA-FEN) and Elisabeta Oleniuc-Lipă (ROU-ROW) with 5 each. Rhode’s 4th Olympics winning a gold would tie her with 5 other Summer Olympics. Vezzali will also compete in Rio and could also extend her record.
  • Tie the record for longest span between individual gold medals at 20 years, equaling the mark of Belgian archer Hubert Van Innis, who won individual gold medals in 1900 and then again in 1920. Rhode already holds the female best in this category at 16 years, but would extend her record.
  • Move to 5th place among the oldest female gold medalists in shooting. Rhode is already the oldest female @TeamUSA shooter to win gold, at age 33-013 in London. She will turn 37 about 3 weeks before the Rio Olympics start.

Michael Phelps – The Rio Possibles

By competing at Rio de Janeiro in 2016, Michael Phelps will set several Olympic records and bests, both USA and international. Further, should he win a medal, or a gold medal, he will also set several Olympic records and bests. He already holds the Olympic records of 22 medals and 18 gold medals, both marks he can extend in Rio. The following details his current standings on the various Olympic lists, and what else he can/will achieve with his performance in Rio.

By Competing in Rio, Michael Phelps Will …

  • Become the first American man to compete in swimming at five Olympic Games, and only the second American, equalling the mark of Dara Torres, who competed in 1984, 1988, 1992, 2000, and 2008. Phelps is tied among American men with Jason Lezak as the only two US Olympians to compete in swimming at 4 Olympic Games.
  • Compete in the Olympics over a 16-year span, as will his @TeamUSA teammate, Anthony Ervin. Together they will move to =4th among male Olympic swimmers, trailing Mark Foster (GBR / 1988-2008), Derya Büyükuncu (TUR / 1992-2012), and Lars Frölander (SWE / 1992-2012), who appeared over a 20-year span. Phelps and Ervin will set the @TeamUSA record among men, but the Olympic swimming record, and the @TeamUSA Olympic swimming best, is held by Dara Torres, who competed over 24 years – 1984-2008.
  • Increase his record for appearing in the most Olympic swimming events. Phelps has competed in 24 events from 2000-12, which is the Olympic record for swimming. He could increase this to as much as 30 in Rio, if he swims all 3 relays, although that is unlikely. Among all swimmers, German Franziska Van Almsick is second with 23 events, while among American swimmers, Jenny Thompson is second with 17 events. Among American male swimmers, Phelps has twice as many as the next 3 – Mark Spitz, Matt Biondi, and Ryan Lochte, with 12 events, although Lochte will compete in Rio and surpass Spitz and Biondi.

If He Wins Individual Medals in Rio, Michael Phelps Will …

  • Tie or become the Olympian with the most medals ever in individual events. Phelps surpassed Larysa Latynina (URS) as the most be-medalled Olympian with 22, bettering Latynina’s 18, but Latynina won 14 individual medals. Through 2012, Phelps has won “only” 13 individual Olympic medals, placing him second in that category. With 1 individual medal, he will tie Latynina with 14, and 2 individual medals would move him into 1st in that list.
  • Move up to 9th place on the oldest individual male medalist list among Olympic swimmers. However, Phelps’ @TeamUSA teammate, Ryan Lochte, is slightly older than Phelps so this could change if he wins an individual medal in Rio; and Anthony Ervin is 5-years older than Phelps if he wins a medal in the 50 free.

If He Wins a Gold Medal in Rio, Michael Phelps Will …

  • Equal the mark for the Olympian with the most gold medals ever in team events, assuming a gold in a relay, which is likely. Through 2012, Phelps has 7 gold medals in relays. The Olympic record for most team event gold medals, any sport, however, is held by another @TeamUSA Olympic swimmer, Jenny Thompson, who won 8 gold medals in relays.
  • Become the oldest individual gold medalist in Olympic swimming history, if he wins an individual gold, surpassing Inge de Bruijn (NED), who was 30-363 when she won the 50 metre freestyle in 2004. Phelps will be about 31-035 to 31-042 during the swimming competition in Rio. However, Phelps’ @TeamUSA teammate, Ryan Lochte, is slightly older than Phelps so this could change if he wins an individual medal in Rio; and Anthony Ervin is 5-years older than Phelps if he wins a gold medal in the 50 free.
  • Become the oldest men to win an Olympic individual gold medal, with an individual gold, that mark currently held by Duke Kahanamoku at Antwerpen in 1920, at age 30-009. However, as noted above, Ryan Lochte is slightly older than Phelps and this could change if he wins an individual gold medal in Rio; and Anthony Ervin is 5-years older than Phelps if he wins a gold medal in the 50 free.
  • Win his fourth consecutive gold medals in the 100 butterfly or 200 IM, assuming he wins either of those events. That will make him only the 4th Olympian to win four consecutive gold medals in the same individual event – after Paul Elvstrøm (DEN – sailing one-handed dinghy, 1948-64 [although there was a slight difference in the event in 1948]); Al Oerter (USA – athletics discus throw, 1956-68); and Carl Lewis (USA – athletics long jump, 1984-96) (and Ray Ewry [USA – athletics standing high jump and standing long jump, 1900-08], if you count 1906).
  • Equal Ray Ewry by winning four consecutive gold medals in two individual events, again assuming he wins both the 100 fly or the 200IM, although that would include 1906 for Ewry. Not including Ewry, Phelps can become the first Olympian to achieve this, although see the next note.

If He Wins Individual Gold Medals in Rio, Michael Phelps Will …

  • Tie or better the “Olympic” record for the most titles in individual events. Although Phelps has won 11 individual gold medals, and would seem to hold that Olympic record, in fact the record is actually held by Leonidas of Rhodes, who won 12 individual titles at the Ancient Olympic Games. Leonidas won the stadion (about 195 yards), diaulos (about 380 yards), and hoplite race (race in armour) at four consecutive Olympic Games from 164-152 BC. Thus, if Phelps wins an individual gold medal, or gold medals, he will tie or break a record that has now stood for 2168 years. If so, Leonidas will not be present in Rio to congratulate Phelps.