How many Olympic gold medals does West Virginia have?

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Which state has the most Olympic gold medals?

Inspired by a 2014 Business Insider article , we created an updated map showing the number of individual Olympic gold medals held by each state.

This list includes Summer and Winter Olympics since 1924, and is based on the athlete’s birthplace.

Also, only gold medals in individual events were counted. For the sake of simplicity, gold medals award to teams, doubles or relays were excluded. (Sorry LeBron!)

A quick breakdown

• California takes the gold with 133 Olympic gold medals since 1924.
  • Beating second place, New York, by 70 medals!
• The only two states without Olympic gold to their name are North Dakota and Rhode Island.
  • Ethel Catherwood , born in North Dakota, won gold in the high jump in 1928… But while competing for Team Canada!
• Washington D.C., the third-least populated state, ranks 31st. Not bad!

West Virginia Olympic quick facts

• The Mountain State ranks 36th for most individual Olympic gold medals by state at 5 medals.
  • Tied with Arizona, Minnesota, Vermont, and Tennessee
• Jerry West, Mary Lou Retton, James Jett, and Randy Barnes are some of the most famous Olympians to be born in the Mountain State.
• Mary Lou Retton was the first gymnast from the United States to win a Gold Medal in 1984.
• Randy Barnes won the Gold medal in shotput during the 1996 Olympic Games
• Jerry West, the NBA Logo, won a Gold Medal with Team USA Basketball during the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome.
• Former NBA player, Deron Williams, of Parkersburg, won a Gold medal as a member of the 2008 ‘Redeem Team’.

Where does your state fall?

Will Paris 2024 shake up these numbers? Keep up with WVNS 59News to find out.

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