Jock-types rule in the West. One look at Team USA’s 530 athletes at the London Games, and you’ll see for yourself: 36 percent of the Olympic team (that’s 193 athletes) calls the West home, even though our 13 states have only a quarter of the U.S. population.
Even more impressive? Californians make up nearly one-fourth of Team USA. If you broke the Golden State out on its own, its parade of 128 athletes into Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremonies would be about as long as those of Mexico (107) and South Africa (133).
From the first day of medal competition this Saturday (men’s cycling road race, Chris Horner, San Diego) to the last on August 12th (men’s marathon, Meb Keflezighi, Mammoth Lakes, and Ryan Hall, Big Bear Lake), and just about every day in between, there will be someone from Team California to root for. (Pictured: beach volleyball, Kerri Walsh of Saratoga (L) and Misty May-Treanor of Costa Mesa, going for their third straight gold.)
Here’s the number of Olympians each Western state can claim:
California 128
Washington 16
Colorado 12
Oregon 10
Arizona 7
Hawaii 4
Nevada 4
Utah 4
Idaho 3
Montana 2
Wyoming 2
Alaska 1
New Mexico 0
