University of Minnesota Athletics

Golden Gophers in the Olympics

Karl Anderson
U.S.A.
1924 (Paris) • 110m Hurdles • 5th

Fortune Gordien
U.S.A.
1948 (London) • Discus • Bronze (50.77m)
1952 (Helsinki) • Discus • 4th (52.66m)
1956 (Melbourne) • Discus • Silver (54.81m)

Leonard Edelen
U.S.A.
1964 (Tokyo) • Marathon • 6th (2-18:12.4)

Ron Dawes
U.S.A.
1968 (Mexico City) • Marathon • 22nd (2-33:53.0)

Roy Griak
U.S.A.
1972 (Munich) • Assistant Manager
*1980 (Moscow) • Assistant Coach
1984 (Los Angeles) • Head Manager

Garry Bjorklund
U.S.A.
1976 (Montreal) • 10,000m • 13th (28:38.08)

Colin Anderson
U.S.A.
*1980 (Moscow) • Shot Put

Steve Plasencia
U.S.A.
1988 (Seoul) • 10,000m • 1st Round (DNF)
1992 (Barcelona) • 10,000m • 1st Round (28:45.59)

Ron Backes
U.S.A.
1992 (Barcelona) • Shot Put • 10th (19.75m)

Keita Cline
British Virgin Islands
1996 (Atlanta) • Long Jump • 1st Round (7.26m)
1996 (Atlanta) • 4x100 Relay • 1st Round (41.26)
2000 (Sydney) • 200m • 1st Round (21.42)

Martin Eriksson
Sweden
2000 (Sydney) • Pole Vault • 22nd (5.50m)

Staffan Stand
Sweden
2000 (Sydney) • High Jump • 6th (2.32m)
2004 (Athens) • High Jump • 18th (2.35m)

Vesa Rantanen
Finland
2004 (Athens) • Pole Vault • 22nd (5.50m)

Hassan Mead
U.S.A.
2016 (Rio) • 5,000m • 11th (13:09.81)
Gopher Classic 2.5.22

Ben Blankenship
U.S.A.
2016 (Rio) • 1,500m • 8th (3:51.09)

Kion Benjamin
Trinidad & Tobago
**2020/2021 (Tokyo) • 4x100m Relay • 12th (38.63)
* U.S. boycotted the 1980 Games
** The 2020 Olympic Games were delayed until 2021 but were still marketed as the 2020 Olympic Games
Golden Gophers in the Olympics
Olympic Games
Year Name Country Event Finish
1924 (Paris) Karl Anderson USA 110m Hurdles 5th (No Time)
1948 (London) Fortune Gordien USA Discus Bronze (50.77m)
1952 (Helsinki) Fortune Gordien USA Discus 4th (52.66m)
1956 (Melbourne) Fortune Gordien USA Discus Silver (54.81m)
1964 (Toyko) Leonard Edelen USA Marathon 6th (2-18:12.4)
1968 (Mexico City) Ron Daws USA Marathon 22nd (2-33:53.0)
1972 (Munich) Roy Griak USA Asst. Manager
1976 (Montreal) Garry Bjorklund USA 10,000m 13th (28:38.08)
1980 (Moscow)* Colin Anderson USA Shot Put DNC
Roy Griak USA Head Manager
1988 (Seoul) Steve Plasencia USA 10,000m 1st Round (DNF)
1992 (Barcelona) Ron Backes USA Shot Put 10th (19.75m)
Steve Plasencia USA 10,000m 1st Round (28:45.59)
1996 (Atlanta) Keita Cline British Virgin Islands Long Jump 1st Round (7.26m)
Keita Cline British Virgin Islands 4x100 Relay 1st Round (41.26)
2000 (Sydney) Keita Cline British Virgin Islands 200m 1st Round (21.42)
Martin Eriksson Sweden Pole Vault 22nd (5.55m)
Staffan Strand Sweden High Jump 6th (2.32m)
2004 (Athens) Staffan Strand Sweden High Jump 18th (2.35m)
Vesa Rantanen Finland Pole Vault 22nd (5.50m)
2016 (Rio de Janeiro) Hassan Mead USA 5,000m 8th (3:51.09)
Ben Blankenship USA 1,500m 11th (13:09.81)
2020/2021 (Tokyo)** Kion Benjamin Trinidad & Tobago 4x100m Relay 12th (38.63)
* U.S. boycotted the 1980 Games
** The 2020 Olympic Games were delayed until 2021 but were still marketed as the 2020 Olympic Games