As the 2026 Olympic Games unfold and draw global attention to the world’s best athletes, the moment offers an opportunity to look beyond the current competition and reflect on the legacy behind it.
In honor of the Olympic Games taking place now in Italy, BYU fans can look back at former Cougar athletes who once trained and competed in Provo before representing their countries on a worldwide stage.
Former BYU soccer player Shauna Rohbock competed in the bobsled at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, where she won a silver medal. In 2010, Rohbock was named to the U.S. Olympic team and she finished sixth in the bobsled at the Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Former BYU marathon runner Rory Linkletter represented Canada in the men’s marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and once pointed out just how exclusive the event truly is.
“There’s only going to be 80 men in the world on the start line of the Olympic marathon and three of them are BYU graduates,” said Linkletter of the 2024 Paris Games.
His words and his own Olympic appearance highlight both the difficulty of reaching the Games and BYU’s outsized impact on the international stage.
Over the years, BYU has produced dozens of Olympians, most commonly in Summer Olympic sports such as track and field, volleyball and basketball.
BYU has had 90 all-time Olympians and 126 Olympic qualifiers. While BYU does not sponsor NCAA winter sports, a small number of athletes with BYU ties have still reached the Winter Olympics through independent training paths. Together, these athletes illustrate how Cougar competitors have continued to make their mark long after leaving campus.
One of the most recognizable former BYU athletes to compete in the Olympics is Jimmer Fredette, who represented the United States in 3x3 basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Known for his electrifying collegiate career in Provo, Fredette adapted his scoring ability to the fast-paced Olympic format, adding an Olympic chapter to a career that began at BYU.
Distance running has become one of BYU’s strongest Olympic pipelines. Former Cougars Conner Mantz and Clayton Young both competed for Team USA in the men’s marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The pair trained together during their collegiate careers and later qualified together for the Games, highlighting BYU’s emphasis on long-term development, endurance and mental toughness.
Another major Olympic highlight came from Kenneth Rooks, who earned a silver medal in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2024 Paris Olympics. His podium finish stood as one of the most successful Olympic performances by a former BYU athlete in recent history and brought international attention to the university’s track and field program.
Several other former Cougars also appeared on the Olympic stage in Paris. Whittni Orton Morgan competed for the United States in the women’s 5,000 meters. James Corrigan represented Team USA in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, further showcasing BYU’s continued presence in elite distance events.
BYU’s Olympic footprint extends beyond running.
Taylor Sander, a former BYU men’s volleyball standout, represented the United States in men’s volleyball at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games where Team USA earned a bronze medal. Sander’s Olympic success reflected the strength of BYU’s volleyball program and its ability to prepare athletes for the international level.
The university’s Olympic history stretches back more than a century. Alma Richards became BYU’s first Olympic gold medalist at the 1912 Stockholm Olympic Games, winning the high jump and setting an early standard for Cougar athletes.
Decades later, sprint legend Frank Fredericks added to BYU’s Olympic legacy by earning silver medals in the 100- and 200-meter races at both the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games while representing Namibia.
While BYU is best known for Summer Olympic sports, the university also has a notable connection to the Winter Games. Eric Heiden, widely regarded as one of the greatest Winter Olympians of all time, won five gold medals in speed skating at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. During his athletic career, Heiden studied at BYU while training in Utah, creating a unique link between the university and Winter Olympic history.
Though rare, these Winter Olympic ties demonstrate that BYU athletes have reached the Games through a variety of paths, whether through NCAA-sponsored programs or independent training while enrolled at the university.
From medalists to first-time Olympians, these Cougars represent years of dedication that began in Provo and carried them to the Games. Their success serves as proof to current BYU athletes that the path from campus to the Olympics is possible and remains a source of pride for alumni and fans alike.