Swimming medal streaks to watch at 2016 Rio Olympics – NBC Olympics

The U.S. has won nearly a third of all Olympic swimming medals ever awarded and look to add to their 500-plus medals at the 2016 Rio Games.

Team USA swimmers have dominated a number of events – their gold-medal streaks date back to the ’90s or even earlier in some cases. The U.S. swimmers hope to continue this legacy, but other countries are in the hunt to disrupt the U.S. dominance.

U.S. gold streak: men’s 100m backstroke

Jeffrey Rouse, 1996

Lenny Krayzelberg, 2000

Aaron Peirsol, 2004

Aaron Peirsol, 2008

Matt Grevers, 2012

U.S. gold streak: women’s 100m backstroke

Natalie Coughlin, 2004

Natalie Coughlin, 2008

Missy Franklin, 2012

U.S. gold streak: men’s 200m backstroke

Bradley Bridgewater, 1992

Lenny Krayzelburg, 2000

Aaron Peirsol, 2004

Ryan Lochte, 2008

Tyler Clary, 2012

U.S. gold streak: women’s 200m breaststroke

Amanda Beard, 2004

Rebecca Soni, 2008

Rebecca Soni, 2012

U.S. gold streak: men’s 100m butterfly

Michael Phelps, 2004

Michael Phelps, 2008

Michael Phelps, 2012

U.S. gold streak: men’s 200m individual medley

Michael Phelps, 2004

Michel Phelps, 2008

Michael Phelps, 2012

U.S. gold streak: men’s 400m individual medley

Tom Dolan, 1996

Tom Dolan, 2000

Michael Phelps, 2004

Michael Phelps, 2008

Ryan Lochte, 2012

U.S. gold streak: men’s 4x100m medley relay

Since the introduction of the men’s 4x100m medley relay at the Olympics in 1960, the U.S. men have claimed gold every time they’ve entered. Every Games from 1960 to 2012 – except for the U.S. Olympic boycott in 1980 – the U.S. men stood atop the podium.

U.S. medal streak: men’s 4x100m freestyle relay

The U.S. men landed on the podium each time they entered this relay, from it’s inauguration in 1964 until the most recent edition in 2012. They almost always win gold – their only silvers came in 2000 and 2012. The relay was not contested at the 1976 or 1980 Olympics.

U.S. medal streak: men’s 4x200m freestyle relay

The men’s 4x200m began at the 1908 Games in London where the U.S. men won bronze behind the Great Britain team. They continued to win a medal each time they contested the relay for the next century – except for the U.S. boycott of the 1980 Olympics – from 1912 to 2012.

U.S. medal streak: women’s 4x100m freestyle relay

U.S. women didn’t contest this event at the 1912 Olympics, when it was first introduced, but they’ve stood on the podium with medals at every Games they’ve competed in since: 1920 to 2012.

U.S. medal streak: women’s 4x200m freestyle relay

The women’s 4x200m freestyle relay was introduced at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, where the U.S. squad took gold. At each Olympics since, they’ve won more medals, including a 2012 gold.

U.S. medal streak: women’s 4x100m medley relay

U.S. women won either gold or silver medals every time they entered this event from the 1960 Games until the 2012 London Olympics.