The 1904 St. Louis Olympics set a record of 231 total medals won by the United States that has never been surpassed.
Key Facts
- Total athletes
- 651
- Participating nations
- 12
- Total events
- 95 events in 16 sports
- US total medals
- 231 medals
- US gold medals
- 76 gold medals
- Medal-winning nations
- 9 nations plus mixed teams
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The 1904 Summer Olympics were organized in conjunction with the St. Louis World's Fair, moving the games from their originally intended host city of Chicago to St. Louis. The co-hosting arrangement and the United States' dominant athletic infrastructure gave American athletes an overwhelming home advantage at the games.
Held in St. Louis, Missouri from July 1 to November 23, 1904, the games featured 651 athletes from 12 nations competing across 95 events in 16 sports. The United States dominated competition, winning 76 gold medals and 231 total medals. Gold medals were awarded to event winners for the first time, replacing the previous practice of awarding silver to first place and bronze to second.
The United States' haul of 231 total medals set an all-time record that still stands. The Soviet Union came closest with 195 medals at the 1980 Olympics. The Soviets later set a gold medal record of 80 at 1980, before the US surpassed that with 83 gold medals at the 1984 Summer Olympics. The introduction of gold medals for first place became the enduring Olympic standard.
Result
at St. Louis, Missouri, United States (St. Louis World's Fair)