Perhaps as a sign of things to come, Gertrude Ederle of the U.S. earned a bronze medal in the 100m freestyle-in 1926, she would become the first woman to swim across the English Channel. Long distance runner Paavo "the Flying Finn" Nurmi won five events, including the 1,500m and the 5,000m, which he won on the same day.

With three gold medals at Antwerp in 1920 and an additional one in Amsterdam in 1928, Nurmi is one of only four Olympians to earn nine gold medals. With regard to total medals at Paris, the U.S. beat the French 99-38.