The United States competed at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. 297 competitors, 251 men and 46 women, took part in 139 events in 18 sports. It was the last Olympics in which U.S. athletes competed under the 48-star flag.
Medalists
|style="text-align:left;width:78%;vertical-align:top"| MedalNameSportEventDateAthleticsMen's high jumpWeightlifting56 kgWeightlifting60 kgAthleticsMen's 100 mAthleticsMen's 400 m hurdlesAthleticsMen's long jumpAthleticsMen's hammer throwAthleticsMen's 800 mAthleticsMen's pole vaultWeightlifting82.5 kgWeightlifting+90 kgAthleticsMen's 200 mCharles Jenkins Sr.Lou JonesJesse MashburnAthleticsMen's 4 × 400 m relayAthleticsMen's discus throwDuvall HechtRowingCoxless pairConn FindlayKurt Seiffert (c)RowingCoxed pair (c)Donald BeerThomas CharltonJohn CookeCaldwell EsselstynCharles GrimesRobert MoreyRusty WailesDavid WightRowingEightAthleticsMen's 110 m hurdlesAthleticsMen's shot putAthleticsMen's 400 mAthleticsMen's decathlonLeamon KingBobby MorrowIra MurchisonAthleticsMen's 4 × 100 m relayAthleticsWomen's high jumpBasketballMen's tournamentBoxingLight heavyweightBoxingHeavyweightDivingMen's 3 m springboardSwimmingMen's 200 m butterflyDivingWomen's 3 m springboardHerbert WilliamsSailingStarSwimmingWomen's 100 m butterflyDivingWomen's 10 m platformAthleticsMen's 100 mAthleticsMen's 400 m hurdlesAthleticsMen's long jumpWeightlifting75 kgAthleticsMen's pole vaultWeightlifting90 kgAthleticsMen's 200 mAthleticsMen's discus throwAthleticsWomen's long jumpJim GardinerRowingDouble scullsArt McKinlayJohn McKinlayJohn WelchliRowingCoxless fourAthleticsMen's 110 m hurdlesAthleticsMen's shot putJack DanielsGeorge LambertModern pentathlonTeamAthleticsMen's decathlonBoxingLight middleweightDivingMen's 3 m springboardWrestlingFreestyle middleweightDick HanleyTim JeckoFord KonnoSonny TanabeBill WoolseySwimmingMen's 4 × 200 m freestyle relayDivingWomen's 3 m springboardSwimmingWomen's 100 m backstrokeSwimmingWomen's 100 m butterflyDivingMen's 10 m platformKay KnappShelley MannJoan RosazzaSylvia RuuskaMarley ShriverNancy SimonsSwimmingWomen's 4 × 100 m freestyle relayDivingWomen's 10 m platformAthleticsMen's 400 m hurdlesWeightlifting82.5 kgAthleticsMen's 200 mAthleticsMen's discus throwRowingSingle scullsAthleticsMen's 110 m hurdlesShooting50 m pistolMae FaggsMargaret MatthewsWilma RudolphAthleticsWomen's 4 × 100 m relayWrestlingFreestyle light heavyweightSwimmingMen's 400 m freestyleSailingFinnSwimmingWomen's 100 m butterflyDivingMen's 10 m platformSwimmingMen's 100 m backstrokeDivingWomen's 10 m platformSwimmingMen's 1500 m freestyleSwimmingWomen's 400 m freestyle |style="text-align:left;width:22%;vertical-align:top"|
+ Medals by sportSportTotalAthletics1610531Weightlifting4217Diving3429Rowing3216Swimming24511Boxing2103Sailing1012Basketball1001Wrestling0112Modern pentathlon0101Shooting0011Total32251774
+ Medals by dayDayDateTotal1November 2330032November 2444193November 2500004November 2642175November 27653146November 2823167November 2910018November 3011139December 17321210December 2000011December 3010112December 4111313December 5222614December 6022415December 7113516December 80000Total32251774
+ Medals by genderGenderTotalMale28191360Female46414Total32251774
+ Multiple medalistsNameSportTotalBobby MorrowAthletics3003Thane BakerAthletics1113George BreenSwimming0123Tom CourtneyAthletics2002Charles Jenkins Sr.Athletics2002Pat McCormickDiving2002Shelley MannSwimming1102Sylvia RuuskaSwimming0112 Athletes who participated in preliminary round(s) but not the final.
Athletics
Track & road events Men AthleteEventHeatQuarterfinalSemifinalFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankThane Baker100 m10.931 Q10.621 Q10.612 Q10.5Bobby Morrow10.901 Q10.31 Q10.31 Q10.5Ira Murchison10.671 Q10.31 Q10.791 Q10.64Thane Baker200 m21.921 Q21.341 Q21.211 Q20.9Bobby Morrow21.951 Q22.031 Q21.432 Q20.6 Andy Stanfield21.691 Q21.221 Q21.351 Q20.7Charles Jenkins Sr.400 m48.73 Q47.51 Q46.11 Q46.7Lou Jones48.11 Q47.41 Q47.32 Q48.15Jim Lea48.33 Q48.15Did not advanceTom Courtney800 m1:52.71 Qcolspan=2 rowspan=3 1:53.61 Q1:47.7 Arnie Sowell1:51.32 Q1:50.01 Q1:48.34Lonnie Spurrier1:51.52 Q1:53.62 Q1:49.36Don Bowden1500 mcolspan=4 rowspan=3 3:59.711Did not advanceTed Wheeler3:50.18Did not advanceJerome Walters3:55.78Did not advanceBill Dellinger5000 m14:26.8 Qcolspan=4 rowspan=2 Curt Stone14:52.0Did not advanceDick Hart10,000 mcolspan=6 rowspan=3 21Gordon McKenzie18Max TruexLee Calhoun110 m hurdles14.11 Qcolspan=2 rowspan=3 14.01 Q13.5 Jack Davis14.01 Q14.01 Q13.5 Joel Shankle14.01 Q14.02 Q14.1Josh Culbreath400 m hurdlescolspan=2 rowspan=3 50.91 Q50.91 Q51.6Glenn Davis51.31 Q50.72 Q50.1Eddie Southern51.31 Q50.1 1 Q50.8Horace Ashenfelter3000 m steeplechase8:51.0colspan=4 rowspan=3 Did not advancePhil Coleman9:10.0Did not advanceDeacon Jones8:47.4 Q9:13.09Thane BakerLeamon KingBobby MorrowIra Murchison4 × 100 m relay40.51 Qcolspan=2 40.31 Q39.5 Tom CourtneyCharles Jenkins Sr.Lou JonesJesse Mashburn4 × 400 m relay3:10.6 Qcolspan=4 3:04.7Nick CostesMarathoncolspan=6 rowspan=3 2:42:2020John J. Kelley2:43:4021Dean ThackwrayJames Hewson20 km walkcolspan=6 rowspan=3 1:46:24.817Henry Laskau1:36:46.812Bruce MacDonald1:43:25.616Elliott Denman50 km walkcolspan=6 rowspan=3 5:12:14.011Leo Sjogren5:12:34.012Adolf Weinacker5:00:16.07
Women AthleteEventHeatSemifinalFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankIsabelle Daniels100 m11.62 Q11.73 Q11.84Mae Faggs12.23Did not advanceLucinda Williams12.03Did not advanceMeredith Ellis200 m26.34Did not advanceMae Faggs24.92 Q24.85Did not advanceWilma Rudolph24.63Did not advanceConstance Darnowski80 m hurdles11.9Did not advanceBarbara Mueller11.6Did not advanceIrene Robertson11.9Did not advanceIsabelle DanielsMae FaggsMargaret MatthewsWilma Rudolph4 × 100 m relay45.4Qcolspan=2 44.9
Field events Men AthleteEventQualificationFinalResultRankResultRankGreg BellLong jump7.357 Q7.83John Bennett7.502 Q7.68Rafer JohnsonDid not advanceIra DavisTriple jump14.9316 Q15.4011Bill Sharpe15.169 Q15.884George Shaw15.237 Q15.3312Charles DumasHigh jump1.92=4 Q2.12 Phil Reavis1.92=7 Q2.00=7Vern Wilson1.92=7 Q2.0010Bob GutowskiPole vault4.157 Q4.53George Mattos4.151 Q4.354Bob Richards4.1511 Q4.56 Ken BantumShot put15.768 Q17.484Bill Nieder16.762 Q18.18Parry O'Brien16.633 Q18.57 Fortune GordienDiscus throw47.6712 Q54.81Des Koch47.1416 Q54.40Al Oerter51.191 Q56.36 Phil ConleyJavelin throwQ69.7410Benjamin Garcia QCy YoungQ68.6411Cliff BlairHammer throwDid not advanceHal Connolly59.053 Q63.19 Albert Hall57.507 Q61.964
Women AthleteEventQualificationFinalResultRankResultRankMargaret MatthewsLong jumpDid not advanceWillye WhiteQ6.09Ann Marie FlynnHigh jump1.5019Did not advanceMildred McDanielQ1.76 Earlene BrownShot putQ15.126Paula DeubelDid not advanceLois TestaQ13.0614Earlene BrownDiscus throwQ41.354Pamela KurrellDid not advanceMarjorie LarneyDid not advanceKaren AndersonJavelin throwQ48.008Marjorie LarneyQ45.2711Amelia WershovenQ44.2914
Combined event – Men's decathlon AthleteEvent100 m400 m1500 mPointsRankMilt CampbellResult10.87.3314.761.8948.814.044.983.4057.084:50.67937Points9908988508869401124775476668330Rafer JohnsonResult10.97.3414.481.8349.315.142.173.9060.274:54.27587Points948902819806900788688695738303Bob RichardsResult11.76.3912.521.7552.316.837.774.4544.09Points6786106287116844585661023423
Basketball
Summary TeamEventPreliminary roundQuarterfinalSemifinalFinal / OppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultRankOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultRankOppositionResultOppositionResultRankUnited States menMen's tournamentW 98–40W 101–29W 121–531 QW 85–44W 113–51W 85–551 QW 101–38W 89–55
Roster
Preliminary round
Quarterfinal
Semifinal
Final
Boxing
AthleteEventRound of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalSemifinalFinalOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultRankRay PerezFlyweightW PTSL PTSDid not advanceLuis MolinaLightweightW PTSL PTSDid not advanceJoseph ShawLight welterweightW PTSL PTSDid not advancePearce LaneWelterweightW PTSL PTSDid not advanceJosé TorresLight middleweightW PTSW PTSW PTSL PTSRoger RouseMiddleweightL PTSDid not advanceJames BoydLight heavyweightW PTSW PTSW PTSPete RademacherHeavyweightW KOW KOW KO
Canoeing
Men AthleteEventHeatFinalTimeRankTimeRankWilliam SchuetteC-1 1000 mcolspan=2 5:47.79Frank HavensC-1 10,000 mcolspan=2 1:01:23.68George ByersRichard MoranC-2 1000 m5:16.15Did not advanceJohn HaasFrank KrickC-2 10,000 mcolspan=2 58:30.010David MerwinK-1 1000 m4:35.94Did not advanceRobert O'BrienK-1 10,000 mcolspan=2 53:02.811Russell DermondJohn PagkosK-2 1000 m4:22.75Did not advanceEdward HoustonKenneth WilsonK-2 10,000 mcolspan=2 51:25.812
Cycling
Road AthleteEventTime / PointsRankJoe BeckerIndividual5:38:1643Erhard NeumannDavid RhoadsDNFGeorge Van MeterDNFJoe BeckerErhard NeumannDavid RhoadsGeorge Van MeterTeamDNF
Track Sprint AthleteEventRound 1Repechage 1Repechage 2QuarterfinalSemifinalFinal / OppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultRankJack DisneySprint, W 13.0colspan=2 L, LDid not advance=5Donald FergusonJames RossiTandemWcolspan=2 LDid not advance=5
Pursuit AthleteEventElimination roundQuarterfinalSemifinalFinal / RankOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultRankAllen BellRichard CortrightArt LongsjoDavid RhoadsTeamDid not advance=9
Time trial AthleteEventTimeRankAllen Bell1000 m1:12.810
Diving
Men AthleteEventPreliminaryFinalTotalScoreRankScoreRankScoreRankBob Clotworthy3 m springboard90.072 Q69.492159.56Donald Harper83.425 Q72.811156.23Glen Whitten89.203 Q59.354148.554Richard Conner10 m platform80.241 Q69.554149.79William Farrell75.076 Q64.057139.126Gary Tobian76.774 Q75.641152.41
Women AthleteEventPreliminaryFinalTotalScoreRankScoreRankScoreRankBarbara Gilders-Dudeck3 m springboard71.473 Q49.294120.764Pat McCormick76.801 Q65.561142.36Jeanne Stunyo71.044 Q54.852125.89Pat McCormick10 m platform51.284 Q33.57184.85Paula Jean Myers52.961 Q28.62481.58Juno Stover-Irwin50.815 Q30.83281.64
Equestrian
Dressage AthleteHorseEventScoreRankRobert BorgBill BiddleIndividual720.017Elaine WattConnecticut Yankee568.030
Eventing AthleteHorseEventDressageCross-countryJumpingPenaltiesRankFaultsTime penaltyTotalRankFaultsTime penaltyTotalRankJack BurtonHuntingfieldIndividual155.6047120.0141.00416.6036 QFrank DuffyDrop Dead162.4050Did not advanceWalter StaleyMud Dauber182.00560.0 -47.43134.5710Jack BurtonFrank DuffyWalter StaleySee aboveTeam500.0017Did not advance
Jumping AthleteHorseEventRound 1Round 2TotalFaultsTime penaltyTotalFaultsTime penaltyTotalPenaltiesRankFrank ChapotBelairIndividual351.2536.25160.016.052.2527William SteinkrausNight Owl200.020.080.08.028.015Hugh WileyTrail Guide160.016.080.08.024.011Frank ChapotWilliam SteinkrausHugh WileySee aboveTeamcolspan=2 72.25colspan=2 32.0104.255
Fencing
18 fencers represented the United States in 1956.
Individual Men AthleteEventRound 1Barrage 1QuarterfinalBarrage 2SemifinalBarrage 3FinalMedal barrageRankRankRankRankRankRankRankRankAlbert AxelrodFoilcolspan=4 rowspan=3 5–23 Qcolspan=2 1–57Did not advanceHarold Goldsmith3–45colspan=2 Did not advanceByron Krieger1–68Did not advanceKinmont HoitsmaÉpée3–34 Qcolspan=2 rowspan=3 2–46colspan=2 Did not advanceRichard Pew5–01 Q3–3=2 B2–01 Q6–11 Qcolspan=2 4–34Did not advanceSewall Shurtz4–22 Q4–1=1 Qcolspan=2 2–57Did not advanceAllan KwartlerSabre2–13 Qcolspan=2 3–24 Qcolspan=2 2–57colspan=2 rowspan=3 Did not advanceTibor Nyilas5–01 Qcolspan=2 2–45colspan=2 Did not advanceDid not advanceGeorge Worth3–13 Qcolspan=2 3–3=3 B1–11 Q2–57Did not advance
Women AthleteEventRound 1SemifinalFinalMedal barrageRankRankRankRankJudy GoodrichFoil3–46Did not advanceMaxine Mitchell5–11 Q0–56Did not advanceJanice York-Romary5–21 Q3–22 Q4–34Did not advance
Team