When it comes to the 2012 Summer Olympics athletes from the University of Minnesota were among the most successful in the Big Ten. Athletes that are either currently or formerly on Big Ten teams won a total of 27 medals at the Olympics, and four of them came from former Golden Gophers. As Off Tackle Empire notes, Minnesota was one of just three schools to have two gold medalists:
Minnesota
GOLD
Lindsay Whalen - USA Women's Basketball
Barbora Spotakova - Czech Republic Women's JavelinSILVER
Kelci Bryant - USA Women's Diving: 3m Synchronized Springboard
Lindsey Berg - USA Women's Volleyball
Whalen was part of a women's USA basketball team that continued a string of dominance that goes back to the 1996 games in Atlanta. As a percentage, Minnesota had the highest percentage of athletes that medaled in the Big Ten, as four of its five athletes will return home with a medal.
All-in-all, Minnesota athletes greatly helped the United States earn 104 medals. Seimione Augustus and Maya Moore of the Lynx were part of the women's basketball gold medal win. Susie Scanlan won bronze with the United States women's team épée in fencing. Finally, Megan Kalmoe won bronze in women's quadruple sculls rowing.
Stay with this StoryStream for more London coverage, and head over to SB Nation's Olympic hub for more analysis on the 2012 Summer Games.