Did you know Illinois has brought home 40 gold medals, the fourth most Olympic gold medals won of any state? From the court, to the pool, to the track, Illinois has made a lasting impact on the Olympics.

Born in East St. Louis, Jackie Joyner-Kersee had one of the most memorable, lasting impacts on the Olympic Games. Despite being born with asthma, Joyner-Kersee specialized in the heptathlon and the long jump. From 1984-1996, Joyner-Kersee competed in four Olympic games, winning  three gold, one silver and two bronze medals. In 1988, she became the first woman to win a gold medal in the long jump.  After her career finished, she was named the greatest female athlete of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated, inducted into the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame, and received the highest civilian honor that can be given in Illinois: the Order of Lincoln.

Long before Joyner-Kersee, Johnny Weissmuller, a swimmer from an immigrant family, landed in Chicago in 1908. Twenty years later, he had made a name for himself as one of the greatest swimmers of his time. He won five gold medals and one bronze, split between the 1924 and 1928 Olympics. All five of his gold medals came from swimming freestyle and his bronze from playing with the U.S Water Polo Team. Along with Olympic success, he held nine world records by 1923 and finished with 67 total by the end of his career. After his Olympic career, Weissmuller became a true hero. He helped to save 11 people from drowning when a steamboat capsized and sank in Lake Michigan.

Along with success in the summer Olympics, Illinois has also been home to several athletes medaling at the winter Olympics. A Chicagoan, Dianne Holum, won a gold, two silver and a bronze medal in speed skating. She is known for competing in the Olympics at the young age of 16! After her career, she continued to contribute to Team USA, coaching future gold medalists Beth and Eric Heiden. From the south side of Chicago, Shani Davis competed at the 2006 and 2016 Olympics, winning two gold and two silver medals in speed skating. He is the first man to win back-to-back golds in the 1000-meter track.

Illinoisans will have their next chance to make history at the Olympic Games held in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy in 2026.