The Top 10 Olympians From Florida All-Time

The Sunshine State ranks in the top 20 states, with population taken into account, with the largest representation at the Olympics this year.

Obviously, we will all be gathered around the television, rooting for our local athletes representing the red, white, and blue. 

Looking back through the Games illustrious history, these are the Top 10 Olympians From Florida All-Time: 

Sylvia Fowles (Miami, Basketball)

One of the greatest WNBA competitors of all time, Fowles posted an 87-6 all-time record playing in a USA Basketball uniform. In every Games she competed, she medaled, joining just six USA Basketball athletes who boast four or more golds. 

At the professional level, Fowles averaged 15.7 points and 9.8 rebounds, claiming two titles with the Minnesota Lynx (2015 and 2017), as well as duo Finals MVPs. 

She currently hails from Liberty City. 

Bob Hayes (Jacksonville, Track and Field)

As of this writing, Hayes is the only athlete to earn both a gold medal and a Super Bowl ring. As a two-sport standout in college, Hayes set multiple world records in the 60-yard, 100-yard, 220-yard, and Olympic 100-meter dashes. 

In total, Hayes nabbed two gold medals at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, triumphing in both the 100 m and the 4×100 m relay. 

Hayes was inducted into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Olympics Hall of Fame. 

Rowdy Gaines (Winter Haven, Swimming) 

Gaines, a member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, earned three gold medals at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympics. Hailing from Winter Haven, Gaines experimented with several sports in high school and didn’t discover swimming until he was a junior. From there, he became a 22x NCAA All-American and eight-time NCAA champion with Auburn University.  

His Olympic aspirations were postponed when the United States boycotted the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games, prompting Gaines to briefly quit swimming and work at his father’s local gas station. 

At the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games, Gaines triumphed in the 100-meter freestyle, 4×100 meter freestyle, and 4×100 medley relays. In total, he claimed 10 world records. 

David Robinson (Key West, Basketball)

The No. 1 overall pick in the 1987 NBA Draft, selected by the San Antonio Spurs, Robinson went on to compete in the 1988, 1992, and 1996 Olympics. He is most known for his tenure with the Dream Team. Arguably the greatest team in any sport ever created, the 1992 squad won matches by an average of 44 points and brought the game of basketball to a global audience. 

In total, Robinson claimed back-to-back gold medals and a bronze. 

As a professional, Robinson helped the Spurs claim two NBA championships, earned 10 all-star selections, and was named league MVP. 

Chandra Cheeseborough (Jacksonville, Track and Field) 

A graduate of Jean Ribault High School in Jacksonville, Cheeseborough earned gold medals in both the Pan American Games and the Liberty Bell Classic (an alternative to the boycotted 1980 Olympics). At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, she earned gold medals in both the 4×100 m relay and the 4×400 m, as well as a silver medal in the 400 m. 

Following retirement, Cheeseborough served as an assistant coach for the Beijing 2008 Games, mentoring competitors in sprints and hurdles. 

Ray Mercer (Jacksonville, Boxing)

Mercer didn’t take up boxing until he was in his 20s. 

A former sergeant in the US Army, Mercer qualified for the Olympics by winning a split decision against future heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison. He went on to beat all four of his opponents and claimed Olympic gold at the 1988 Seoul Games.

After his Olympic success, Mercer turned pro, eventually claiming the WBO heavyweight title in 1991. He defended his championship once against Tommy Morrison before vacating it. 

Caeleb Dressel (Green Cove Springs, Swimming)

One of the stars at this year’s Games, Dressel already had seven golds heading into Paris competition. As of this writing, he added another gold to his trophy chest, triumphing in the 4×100 m freestyle. 

A graduate of Clay High School in Green Cove Springs, Dressel trained with the Bolles School Sharks in Jacksonville, eventually competing at the collegiate level with the University of Florida. 

Ryan Lochte (Gainesville, Swimming)

Although not born in the Sunshine State, Lochte attended Spruce Creek High School in Volusia County and the University of Florida under coach Gregg Troy. He won 12 Olympic medals, including six golds, in the 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 Games. He also set world records in the 200-meter individual medley, the 4×200-meter freestyle, and the 4×100-meter freestyle relay. 

However, during the 2016 Games, Lochte made international news for all the wrong reasons, lying that he was the victim of armed robbery in Brazil. When it was revealed the story was a coverup for vandalizing a gas station, Lochte was suspended for 10 months, and lost nearly all of his major sponsorships. 

The Williams Sisters (West Palm Beach, Tennis)

Yeah, this entry counts as two. 

Arguably the most influential tennis players of their generation, both Venus and Serena Williams claimed four gold medals at the Olympics—one each in singles and three in doubles. Venus also has one silver, making her the most decorated tennis player in Olympic history. 

Though born in Michigan, their father, Richard, was determined to make his daughters tennis champions. He moved the family to West Palm Beach to attend Rick Macci’s tennis academy. The story was later told in the Academy Award-winning film King Richard, starring Will Smith.   

Of the 592 athletes representing the U.S.A. in Paris, 50 of them call Florida home. Obviously, plenty will make their country proud, with gold, silver, or bronze medals slung around their neck. The Paris Olympics take place from July 26 to August 11.