Immigrant Olympians

Immigrant Olympians on TeamUSA

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The United States’ resources, training facilities, coaching, and athletic excellence attract top athletes from around the world, and our generous immigration system is a big part of our Olympic success story.

Immigrant Olympians take a variety of paths to arrive in the United States, and they contribute to the overall success of TeamUSA. Some came to the United States as children, others came to attend college or train, still others had to flee their countries due to violence. Yet all became U.S. citizens and proudly represent TeamUSA.

Many international athletes who live, train, and compete in the United States choose to represent their home countries in the Olympics. These athletes also represent the success of the U.S. immigration system because our universities, training facilities, and professional leagues benefit athletically and financially from their excellence.

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Immigrants' Pivotal Role in TeamUSA's Olympic Success

IIR Program Coordinator Michele Waslin published an op ed in The Hill describing how the United States’s resources, training facilities, coaching and athletic excellence attract top athletes from around the world, and our generous immigration system is a big part of our Olympic success story.

Foreign-Born Olympians

Tokyo 2021

At least 33 of the TeamUSA Olympians were not born here, but have made the United States their home and proudly represent this country. Thirteen hail from Europe, followed by seven from Asia, six from Africa, five from the Americas, and two from Australia. These foreign-born athletes comprise approximately five percent of the US delegation and represent the best of US athletics from track and field to equestrian, fencing, table tennis, volleyball, water polo, and 15 additional sports. These international athletes take a variety of paths to arrive in the United States, and they contribute to the overall success of TeamUSA.

See all of our foreign-born Olympians here.

Immigrant Olympians on TeamUSA

Photo Credit: Canva