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 4^th gold medal in beach volleyball, becoming only the 8^th 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 5^th 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 2^nd USA woman to win 4 consecutive gold medals in the same Summer Olympic event, equalling Lisa Leslie in basketball.
• Become =4^th 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 4^th consecutive gold medals, matching the above most gold medal records.
• Become the oldest Olympic gold medalist in beach volleyball. Walsh-Jennings will celebrate her 38^th 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 4^th oldest female competitor in Olympic beach volleyball, trailing Pottharst, and Americans Gail Castro (1996 / 38-254) and Elaine Youngs (2008 / 38-176).

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 6^th 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 =2^nd 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 =6^th 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 =3^rd 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 =4^th 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 =3^rd 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 =7^th 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 =2^nd 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 =4^th 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 =2^nd 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 =5^th 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 =5^th 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.

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 8^th Olympic cycling medal, which will be the most ever. Wiggins is currently tied for 1^st 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 5^th Olympic cycling gold medal, and move into lone 2^nd 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 8^th oldest male gold medalist in cycling, at about 36 years, 105 days.

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 4^th consecutive gold medals in the sport. If they do …

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

• Win their 4^th gold medal in basketball, becoming only the 8^th-9^th-10^th 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 5^th-6^th-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 5^th-6^th-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 2^nd-3^rd-4^th 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 =4^th 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 4^th consecutive gold medal in beach volleyball, matching some of the above most gold medal records.

Allyson Felix will compete at her 4^th 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 7^th 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 2^nd 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 5^th 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 4^th among US women with 8 Olympic swimming medals.

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

• Move into 2^nd 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 4^th 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 4^th among US women with 8 Olympic swimming medals.

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

• Move into a tie for 1^st among all women in track & field athletics, with 9 medals, equalling Merlene Ottey (JAM).
• Move into a tie for 3^rd 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 4^th 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 4^th among US women with 8 Olympic swimming medals. With 9 medals, Felix would move into a tie for 36^th among all Olympians, including all sports.

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

• Win her 5^th 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 5^th 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 3^rd 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 5^th 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 5^th 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 2^nd 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 5^th 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 4^th 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 4^th 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 2^nd 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 4^th 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 13^th among all Olympians, all sports, with 7 gold medals.

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 =10^th on the list of females competing in the most Olympic Games, although this will likely change dramatically as 13 women competed in their 6^th Olympics at London in 2012, and 29 women competed in their 5^th Olympics in 2012.

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

• Win her 6^th 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 =7^th 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 6^th 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 =3^rd on this list with 7 other women.
• Become the 2^nd 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 4^th 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 4^th Olympic Games, which among Summer female Olympians, would move her to =4^th 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 4^th 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 5^th 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.

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 =4^th 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 1^st in that list.
• Move up to 9^th 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 4^th 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.

By winning sprint gold medals at Rio de Janeiro in 2016, Usain Bolt will also set several Olympic records and bests. The following details which records Bolt may achieve in Rio. These are all contingent, and may change, based upon any loss of relay medals that may occur because of the recent re-test positive for PEDs by his Jamaican relay teammate Nesta Carter from the 2008 Olympics.

If He Wins All Three Sprint Gold Medals in Rio, Usain Bolt Will …

• Equal the athletics record of 9 Olympic gold medals, held by Paavo Nurmi (FIN, 1920-28), and Carl Lewis (USA, 1984-96). Of note, Ray Ewry won 10 Olympic gold medals, if one includes his 2 titles in 1906. In all sports, four Olympians have won 9 Olympic gold medals, as follows: Larysa Latynina (URS-GYM), Mark Spitz (USA-SWI), and Nurmi and Lewis.
• Trail only Michael Phelps’ 18 gold medals in swimming (through London 2012) in all Olympic sports, and Ray Ewry’s 10 athletics gold medals, if one includes 1906.
• Become only the second person to win 3 or more Olympic gold medals in at least 3 Olympic events. The only person who has achieved this to date is Michael Phelps in swimming, with 3 gold medals in 4 events – 100 butterfly, 200 IM, 4×200 freestyle relay, and 4×100 medley relay.
• Become only the second person to win 3 gold medals at 3 Olympic Games, equaling the mark of Michael Phelps, who achieved this in swimming in 2004, 2008, and 2012.

If He Wins the 100-200 in Rio, Usain Bolt Will …

• Become only the 3rd person to win 3 Olympic golds in 2 individual events, equalling Michael Phelps (USA/SWI – 100 butterfly and 200 IM, 2004-12), and Ray Ewry (USA/ATH – standing high jump and standing long jump, 1900-08). Ewry won both of those events 4 times, if one includes 1906.

However, …

It should be noted that the actual athletics “Olympic” record, and the record for the sprints, is held by Leonidas of Rhodes, and Bolt would still trail Leonidas, who won 12 titles at the Ancient Olympic Games, winning the stadion (about 195 yards), diaulos (about 380 yards) and hoplite race, or race in armour, at four consecutive Olympic Games from 164-152 BC.

OK, the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics are dawning upon us – with the Opening Ceremony only 8 days away (5 August). So we will be revving up on olympstats.com to provide you all the data you need to closely follow the happenings and understand what may happen, what could happen, and then what did happen. We will always release our stats by first tweeting about them at @bambam1729.

Next week, we’ll be releasing Stat Sheets for Overall Olympic Records, and then Stat Sheets for each of the Sports on the 2016 Olympic Program, but prior to that, over the next few days, we’ll be providing data sheets on some of the best known athletes coming into the Rio Olympics, athletes such as Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, Saori Yoshida, Allyson Felix, and more. All of these will be on top Olympic athletes and detail what they may achieve in Rio.

As one of our OlyMADMen likes to say, watch this space.

Bill Mallon MD

Going into Rio, the USA women’s eight in rowing has now been unbeaten since 2010, also winning the gold medal in 2008 and 2012. Impressive but that is actually “only” 2 consecutive Olympic gold medals. We often get asked what have been the longest streaks or the most dominance performance by nations in team sports, team events, individual events, and sports. Not easy to rank them, but for these categories we have prepared separate lists, which are given in chronologic order only.

Team Sports

• Canada – ice hockey (men) – gold 1920-32, 1948-52 – 4 consecutive golds, 6 of 7 consecutive golds, won 37 of 43 games (lost 3, tied 3)
• India – hockey (field) (men) – gold 1928-36, 1948-56 – 6 consecutive golds, won 30 consecutive matches
• USA – basketball (men) – gold 1936, 1948-68 – 7 consecutive golds, won 62 consecutive games
• Soviet Union – ice hockey (men) – gold 1956, 1964-76, 1984-88 – 4 consecutive golds, 7 of 9 consecutive golds, won 56 of 63 games (lost 5, tied 2)
• USA – basketball (women) – gold 1984-88, 1996-2012 – 5 consecutive golds (ongoing), 7 of 8 consecutive golds, won 41 consecutive games (1992-2012, ongoing)

Team Events

• USA – rowing eights (men) – gold 1920-36, 1948-56 – 8 consecutive golds
• Soviet Union / Unified Team – gymnastics team (women) – 1952-80, 88-92 – 8 consecutive golds, and 10 of 11 golds
• Japan – gymnastics team (men) – 1960-76 – 5 consecutive golds
• USA – swimming 4×100 medley relay (men) – 13 of 14 gold medals (1960-2012), missing only 1980 when the USA did not compete and Australia won gold. Two streaks of 5 consecutive golds (1960-76), and 8 consecutive golds (1984-2012), which is ongoing entering Rio.
• USA – swimming 4×100 freestyle relay (men) – 1964-72, 1984-96 – 8 consecutive golds – the event was not contested in 1976 or 1980.
• Soviet Union / Unified Team / Russia – figure skating pairs – 1964-2014 – 13 of 15 golds; 1 each by Canada and China
• Soviet Union / Unified Team / Russia – figure skating dance – 1976-2014 – 7 of 11 golds; 1 each by Canada, France, Great Britain, and USA
• USA – swimming 4×200 freestyle relay (women) – 4 of 5 golds (1996-2012), losing only in 2008 to Australia.

Individual Events

• USA – athletics pole vault (men) – 1896-1968 – 16 consecutive golds. Of note, in 1906, the USA did not win this event, which was won by Fernand Gonder of France.
• USA – athletics 110 metre hurdles (men) – 20 of 28 golds; 2 by Canada and Cuba, 1 each by China, France, German Democratic Republic (East Germany), and South Africa.
• USA – athletics long jump (men) – 20 of 28 golds; 2 by Great Britain, 1 each by Cuba, German Democratic Republic (East Germany), Panama, and Sweden.
• Kenya – athletics 3,000 m steeplechase (men) – 1968-2012 – 10 of 12 gold medals, 21 of 36 medals won

Sports

• USA – diving (both) – 1920-56 – 78 of 102 medals won by USA divers (next most was Sweden with 8), 30 of 34 golds won by USA divers (1 each by Australia, Denmark, Mexico, and Sweden); in this era, USA divers swept the medals in 17 of 34 events. During this time, 3 divers from each nation were allowed per event, so this can no longer occur.
• China – table tennis (both) – 1988-2012 – won 24 of 28 gold medals (next most is 3 by Korea), and 47 of 88 medals in all. Chinese women have won 13 of 14 events, and Chinese men have won 11 of 14 events. In 1996, 2000, 2008, and 2012, Chinese table tennis players won all 4 events on the program.
• Korea (South) – archery (women) – 1988-2012 – 13 of 14 gold medals, including 7 of 7 team gold medals, and 21 of 42 medals
• China – badminton (women) – 1992-2012 – 9 of 12 gold medals, 22 of 38 medals
• China – diving (both) – 1992-2012 – 30 of 40 golds won by Chinese divers (4 Russia, 3 USA, 2 Australia, and 1 Greece); 70 of 120 medals won by Chinese divers (next most was Russia / Unified Team with 21) – note that after 1980, only 2 divers or diving team have been allowed per nation per event.