The Bowerman: Racking Up Olympic Medals
Blessing Okagbare started a trend in 2008.
Two years before she’d become a finalist for The Bowerman – and one year before the inception of collegiate track & field’s highest honor – Okagbare won bronze at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics in the women’s long jump. Okagbare soared 6.91m (22-8) in Round 1 to all but cement her spot on the podium and her bronze would later be upgraded to silver following the disqualification of Russia’s Tatyana Lebedeva due to a doping violation.
The Bowerman History: Medal Count (Olympics & Worlds)
Well, since Jenny Barringer (now Simpson) and Galen Rupp won The Bowerman in its inaugural year of 2009, 10 past winners/finalists have combined to capture 16 medals at the Olympic Games, including eight gold, three silver and five bronze (That goes to 11, 17, 8-4-5, counting Okagbare).
The Bowerman At The Olympic Games |
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Past Winners – 2012 London Olympic Games
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Name
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Country
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Event
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Medal
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Ashton Eaton
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United States
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Decathlon
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Gold
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Galen Rupp
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United States
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10,000 Meters
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Silver
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Derek Drouin
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Canada
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High Jump
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Bronze
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Deon Lendore
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Trinidad and Tobago
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4×400 Relay
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Bronze
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Past Finalists – 2012 London Olympic Games
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Name
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Country
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Event
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Medal
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Christian Taylor
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United States
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Triple Jump
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Gold
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Tony McQuay
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United States
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4×400 Relay
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Silver
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Brigetta Barrett
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United States
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High Jump
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Silver
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Past Winners – 2016 Rio Olympic Games
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Name
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Country
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Event
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Medal
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Ashton Eaton
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United States
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Decathlon
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Gold
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Derek Drouin
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Canada
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High Jump
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Gold
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Brianna Rollins
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United States
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100 Hurdles
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Gold
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Courtney Okolo
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United States
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4×400 Relay
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Gold
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Galen Rupp
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United States
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Marathon
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Bronze
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Deon Lendore
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Trinidad and Tobago
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4×400 Relay
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Bronze
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Past Finalists – 2016 Rio Olympic Games
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Name
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Country
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Event
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Medal
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Christian Taylor
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United States
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Triple Jump
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Gold
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Tony McQuay
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United States
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4×400 Relay
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Gold
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Brianne Theisen
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Canada
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Heptathlon
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Bronze
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That’s seven medals from London and nine more added to the haul in Rio!
Four different winners/finalists won individual Olympic gold – 2010 winner Ashton Eaton (x2), 2013 men’s winner Derek Drouin, 2013 women’s winner Brianna Rollins (now McNeal) and 2011 men’s finalist Christian Taylor (x2) – while two others brought home relay gold – 2016 women’s winner Courtney Okolo and 2012 men’s finalist Tony McQuay.
We can’t wait to see what transpires in Tokyo over the next few weeks!
