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    West Virginians who have won Olympic gold medals

    By Sam Kirk,

    18 hours ago

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4SLpjr_0ucJ2i6900

    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

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4UIyRm_0ucJ2i6900
    UNITED STATES – JULY 27: LEICHTATHLETIK: Kugelstossen Maenner ATLANTA 1996 am 27.7.96, Randy BARNES/USA GOLD – MEDAILLE (Photo by Lutz Bongarts/Bongarts/Getty Images)

    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.

    West Virginia athletes to look for in the Paris Olympics

    Vicky Bullett

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=16OBBz_0ucJ2i6900
    BARCELONA, SPAIN: Members of the U.S. women’s basketball team celebrate their victory over the Cuban team 07 August, 1992 in the bronze medal match in Barcelona. Left to right are Cynthia Cooper, Vickie Orr, Suzie McConnell, Carolyn Jones, Daedra Charles and Vicky Bullett. The U.S. won 88-74. (Photo credit should read CHRIS WILKINS/AFP via Getty Images)

    Born in Martinsburg, Vicky Bullett played on the Team USA women’s basketball Olympic teams in 1988, where they won gold, and 1992, where they won bronze. She went on to play several years of professional basketball in Europe and then two years in the U.S. for the Washington Mystics. After retiring, she coached several college teams, including at West Virginia Wesleyan College.

    She is a graduate of Martinsburg High School.

    James Jett – 1992

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3DgKuF_0ucJ2i6900
    USA’s James Jett, left, of Shenandoah Junction, W.Va., takes off after receiving the final hand-off from Dennis Mitchell of Gainesville, Fla., in a first round heat of the Olympic men’s 4x100m event Friday, August 7, 1992, in Barcelona, Spain. The U.S. team, made of Jett, Mitchell, Leroy Burrell of Houston, Tx., and Mike Marsh, of Los Angeles, Calif., placed second to Cuba in the heat to advanced to the next round. (AP Photo)

    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

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0c1ubL_0ucJ2i6900
    Mary Lou Retton reacts to applause after her performance at her Olympics gymnastic event on Aug. 3, 1984, in Los Angeles. She scored a total of 79.175 to take the gold medal in individual all-around competition. (AP Photo/Suzanne Vlamis)

    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.

    WVU’s Mary Tucker is going for Olympic gold in 2024

    Mike Barrett

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=20XtpW_0ucJ2i6900
    MEXICO – OCTOBER 12: Basketball: 1968 Summer Olympics, Team USA victorious with gold medal on stand after winning game, Mexico City, MEX 10/12/1968–10/27/1968 (Photo by Jerry Cooke/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (SetNumber: X13567)

    Barrett was originally from Webster Springs, West Virginia and attended Webster Springs High School and West Virginia Tech. After leading the All-Navy team to an AAU title in 1968, he was selected to represent Team USA at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, where they won gold.

    He passed away in 2011 at age 67.

    Jerry West – 1960

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=45YiAe_0ucJ2i6900
    Basketball: 1960 Summer Olympics: USA Jerry West (3) in action, shot vs Soviet Union during Semifinal – Pool B at Palazzo dello Sport. Rome, Italy 7/15/1960 CREDIT: John G. Zimmerman (Photo by John G. Zimmerman /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

    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

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4g48Mf_0ucJ2i6900
    ITALY – AUGUST 25: Track & Field: 1960 Summer Olympics, USA Glenn Davis in hurdles action during 400M race, Rome, ITA 8/25/1960–9/11/1960 (Photo by John G. Zimmerman/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

    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.

    WVU athletes compete in Paris Olympics: Dates, times, where to watch

    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.

    Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include two additional athletes.

    Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

    For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOWK 13 News.

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