How Long Has It Been? Event-By-Event Look at Last Time the USA Won Olympic Gold (Women’s Edition)
Given its century-long dominance in the pool, it’s rare for the United States to go too long without capturing Olympic gold in a specific event. Sure, some events yield greater production than others, but most events have delivered their share of American-earned titles on the biggest stage in the sport.
Here is a look at the last time the United States claimed gold in each of the 14 individual events on the Olympic program:
50 Freestyle
Last Gold Medal: 1996
Winner: Amy Van Dyken
Note: In the years since Amy Van Dyken prevailed, Dara Torres (2008) and Simone Manuel (2016) have earned silver medals in the 50 freestyle.
100 Freestyle
Last Gold Medal: 2016
Winner: Simone Manuel
Note: When Simone Manuel won the gold medal in Rio de Janeiro, she shared the top step on the podium with Canadian Penny Oleksiak.
200 Freestyle
Last Gold Medal: 2016
Winner: Katie Ledecky
Note: The gold medal from Katie Ledecky in Rio was part of her 200-400-800 freestyle sweep.
400 Freestyle
Last Gold Medal: 2016
Winner: Katie Ledecky
Note: The gold medal from Katie Ledecky in 2016 arrived in world-record fashion, behind a 3:56.46 clocking.
800 Freestyle
Last Gold Medal: 2024
Winner: Katie Ledecky
Note: A future Hall of Famer, Katie Ledecky has won the past four Olympic titles in the event.
1500 Freestyle
Last Gold Medal: 2024
Winner: Katie Ledecky
Note: The 1500 freestyle didn’t make its Olympic debut as a women’s event until the 2020 Games in Tokyo.
100 Backstroke
Last Gold Medal: 2012
Winner: Missy Franklin
Note: The United States has won gold in the 100 backstroke on 11 occasions since the event debuted at the 1924 Games in Paris.
200 Backstroke
Last Gold Medal: 2016
Winner: Maya DiRado
Note: The victory by Maya DiRado at the 2016 Games denied Hungarian Katinka Hosszu a four-gold performance, as the Hungarian had already won both individual medley events and the 100 backstroke.
100 Breaststroke
Last Gold Medal: 2020
Winner: Lydia Jacoby
Note: Teenager Lydia Jacoby earned her gold medal from an unusual locale, as she hails from Alaska.
200 Breaststroke
Last Gold Medal: 2024
Winner: Kate Douglass
Note: Four of the past six Olympic crowns in this event belong to Americans, with Amanda Beard (2008), Rebecca Soni (2008/2012) and Kate Douglass prevailing.
100 Butterfly
Last Gold Medal: 2024
Winner: Torri Huske
Note: The win by Torri Huske at the Paris Games featured a gold-silver showing for Team USA, as Gretchen Walsh picked up the silver medal.
200 Butterfly
Last Gold Medal: 2000
Winner: Misty Hyman
Note: When Misty Hyman secured the gold medal at the Sydney Games, her win marked a major upset over Australian Susie O’Neill.
200 Individual Medley
Last Gold Medal: 1984
Winner: Tracy Caulkins
Note: The 200 individual medley features the longest drought for Olympic gold among American women. Since Tracy Caulkins won in Los Angeles in 1984, four U.S. athletes have claimed silver.
400 Individual Medley
Last Gold Medal: 1988
Winner: Janet Evans
Note: The Seoul Games were a showcase for Janet Evans, who complemented her triumph in the 400 individual medley with titles in the 400 freestyle and 800 freestyle.
