West Virginians who have won Olympic gold medals

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — Since the Olympics started in 1896, West Virginians brought home several gold medals for Team USA in both individual and team events. Although West Virginia’s total number of medals doesn’t compare to bigger states like California , these West Virginia natives are Olympic gold medalists.

Randy Barnes – 1996

Eric Randolph Barnes, who born in Charleston, West Virginia, was a two-time Olympic medalists in the shot put, including a gold medal from the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. He previously held the world record for shot put at 23.12 meters—a records which was broken in 2021. However, he was banned from the sport for life two years after winning gold after several positive tests for anabolic steroids, according to the official Olympics website .

Barnes is a graduate of St. Albans High School.

James Jett – 1992

Although he was not an individual winner, Charles Town area native James Jett was part of the gold medal relay team at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. He did not run in the final round of the relay, during which Team USA set the world record with a time of 37.40 seconds. Although he had a successful track career, he is best known for his football career as a wide receiver for the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders.

Jett attended Jefferson High School and West Virginia University.

Mary Lou Retton – 1984

Fairmont, West Virginia native Mary Lou Retton is one of the most famous athletes to ever come out of West Virginia. In the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, she became the first American ever to win gold in the all-around gymnastics competition. She also won two silver medals and two bronze medals during that games.

She attended Fairmont Senior High School but did not graduate.

Jerry West – 1960

Basketball icon Jerry West and Team USA won gold at his only Olympic appearance in 1960. He is known by West Virginians as the best West Virginia University basketballer of all time, and he is known nationally for his basketball career with the Los Angeles Clippers and for being the inspiration behind the current NBA logo.

West was born in Chelyan, West Virginia just outside of Charleston in 1938 and passed away earlier this year at age 86 . He was a graduate of East Bank High School.

Glenn Davis – 1956 & 1960

Glenn “Jeep” Davis, a three-time Olympic gold medalist in track and field, was born in Wellsburg, West Virginia, although he grew up in Ohio. He won gold in the 400 meter hurdles in both the 1956 Melbourne games and the 1960 Rome games. In Rome, he was also a member of the gold medal-winning 4×400 meter team.

He died in 2007 at the age of 74.

West Virginia University

Although not originally from West Virginia, there have also been several West Virginia University athletes who have been Olympic gold medalists.

Here’s a list of gold medalists from WVU:

• Kadeisha Buchanan – 2021 Women’s Soccer (Team Canada)
• Ashley Lawrence – 2021 Women’s Soccer (Team Canada)
• Ginner Thrasher – 2016 Women’s Shooting (Team USA)
• Nicco Campriani – 2012 & 2016 Men’s Shooting (Team Italy)
• Ed Etzel – 1984 Men’s Shooting (Team USA)
• Jack Writer – 1972 Men’s Shooting (Team USA)

There are no native West Virginians competing in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, but there are several WVU and Fairmont State athletes and alumni competing , including a few that have a good chance of bringing home a medal.

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