Athletes Who Have Medals in Summer And Winter Olympics

Advertisement

Learn about amazing athletes who have medals at both the Summer and Winter Olympics. These athletes have proven themselves in different sports and reached the top of their game. These incredible people have won medals in both the hot summer and the cold winter competitions showing how versatile and talented they are.

Advertisement

Eddie Eagan

Eddie Eagan was from the USA and became the first person who achieve medals in both the Summer and Winter Olympics. Firstly, in 1920, he won a gold medal in light heavyweight boxing during the Summer Olympics. Then, 12 years later, in 1932, he surprised everyone by joining the U.S. four-man bobsled team in the Winter Olympics and won another gold medal. He was the one and only person who won a medal and a gold medal in both the Summer and Winter Games like Eddie did. He was a true Olympic legend.

Jacob Tullin Thams

Jacob Tullin Thams made history by winning the first-ever Olympic gold in ski jumping at the 1924 Winter Games. His skills were not limited to snowy slopes. In 1936, he also won a silver medal in 8-meter yachting or sailing at the Summer Olympics in Berlin. This impressive achievement makes him one of the rare athletes to succeed in both summer and winter events, highlighting his unique talents and versatility. Thams is truly a remarkable and multi-talented athlete.

Christa Luding-Rothenburger

Christa Luding-Rothenburger pulled off an extraordinary Olympic feat in 1984 as she won speed skating gold in 500m in 1984, golf in 1000m in 1988, and silver in 500m in 1992, She not only won gold and silver in speed skating at the Calgary Winter Games but also switched to match sprint cycling for the Summer Games in Seoul and secured a silver medal in 1988. This accomplishment makes her the first and only athlete to medal in both the Winter and Summer Olympics within the same year. The schedule change in 1994 makes it impossible for anyone to replicate her legendary achievement.

Clara Hughes

Clara Hughes made Olympic history as a dual-season athlete, winning medals in both the Summer and Winter Games. In 1996, she earned bronze in Individual road race cycling and individual time trial cycling at the Summer Olympics, then switched to speed skating for the Winter Games, clinching bronze in the 5000m at Salt Lake City in 2002. Her standout achievements include gold and silver in Turin 2006 which made her the only athlete with multiple medals in both Summer and Winter Olympics. Hughes, a versatile and dedicated athlete, closed her Olympic career with another bronze in the 5000m at Vancouver 2010, securing her legendary status in both summer and winter sports.

Lauryn Williams 

Lauryn Williams made history by winning medals in both the Summer and Winter Olympics. In track and field, she earned silver in the 100-meter dash at the 2004 Athens Olympics and gold in the 4×100-meter relay at the 2012 London Olympics. After retiring due to injury, she boldly transitioned to bobsleigh, securing a silver medal in the two-woman event at the 2014 Sochi Games. As the first American woman to achieve this dual-season success, Williams’ diverse athletic skills and determination serve as an inspiration in Olympic history.

Eduardo “Eddy” Alvarez

Eduardo “Eddy” Alvarez is an exceptional athlete, achieving the rare feat of winning medals in both the Summer and Winter Olympics and notably, in entirely different sports. He earned a silver medal in short-track speed skating at the 2014 Winter Olympics and later, at the 2020 Summer Olympics, secured another silver in baseball. Alvarez’s versatility and success across distinct disciplines make him only the sixth athlete and third American to achieve such a remarkable double-medal accomplishment in both Games. His journey is truly inspiring, highlighting dedication, talent, and versatility in diverse athletic arenas.

Conclusion

These amazing athletes won medals in both the Summer and Winter Olympics, showing incredible skills. From Eddie Eagan’s groundbreaking achievements to Lauryn Williams’ historic wins, each athlete proved they could be good at different sports. Their inspiring stories tell us that if you love what you do and work hard, you can succeed in various sports at the Olympic level.

Advertisement