Penn State University boasts a long tradition of hosting a wide variety of sports for its student body to enjoy both as participants and spectators. From the first organized baseball team on campus in 1875 to the 31 sports sponsored at the varsity level in 2021, Penn State’s love of sports is diverse and has remained strong over time. That love of sports extends to the Olympics, in which 230 members of the Penn State community have played integral roles in the Olympic project.
Olympic Lions takes the most inclusive definition of a Penn Stater as we look at the university’s history of Olympic involvement. Whether an athlete competed as a Nittany Lion during their college career or came to the university later in life as a coach or faculty member, Penn State’s involvement in the Olympic project spans more than a century. From St. Louis to Rio de Janeiro, athletes with affiliations to Penn State have claimed 18 gold medals and 55 total medals at the summer and winter Olympic festivals. Dozens have attended the Olympics as administrators, judges, coaches, researchers, and other critical functionaries.
With the Olympics set to start at the end of July, 2024, more Nittany Lions have a chance to make their mark on the global stage. This exhibit traces the history of Penn State’s involvement in the Olympic project from the early 20th century through the upcoming spectacle in Paris.
Guide to navigating the Olympic Lions digital exhibit
This exhibit is designed to be viewed chronologically, with the arrows at the bottom of each page guiding you backward and forward between each Olympic festival. It is also designed to provide easy access to pick and choose the Olympic stories most interesting to individual readers.
At any point you can click on the Olympic Lions link at the top of the page and return to the timeline on the home page. The menu button at the top right of each page also provides a list of each Olympic year featured on the timeline for easy navigation.