Record 292 women mark final US Olympic team

Shooter Kim Rhode making her sixth appearance

(Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

The U.S. Olympic team was finalized on Saturday, with a record 292 women part of the 555-person team announced by the U.S. Olympic Committee.

 

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The USOC said Team USA will feature the most women to have ever competed for a single country at the Olympics.

 

Of the 555-member team, 191 athletes will be making a return to the Olympics, including 19 who will be defending individual medals.

 

Three members of the U.S. team will be making their sixth appearance in an Olympic Games: equestrian Phillip Dutton, along with shooters Emil Milev and Kim Rhode.

 

Swimmer Michael Phelps, beach volleyball player Kerri Walsh Jennings and tennis player Venus Williams are among seven members who will be participating in their fifth Olympics.

 

Phelps and Allyson Felix (track and field) are the most decorated U.S. male and female athletes to head to Rio de Janeiro, the site of this year's Games. Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time, from any nation with 22 medals, including 18 gold medals. He's the first American male swimmer to qualify for five Olympic teams, according to the USOC.

 

Felix owns six medals, including four gold.

 

The USOC said 46 states are represented, along with three athletes from the District of Columbia and one from the U.S. Virgin Islands. California boasts the largest group of Olympians, with 125 athletes coming from the state.

 

Dutton is the oldest athlete and among three who are 52 years old (Milev and equestrian Beezie Madden).

 

Four 16-year-olds earned a spot with Sydney McLaughlin becoming the youngest American athlete to qualify for the Olympic Games in track and field since 1972. Table tennis player Kanak Jha is the youngest American athlete to qualify at 16, along with other 16-year-olds Laurie Hernandez (artistic gymnastics) and Laura Zeng (rhythmic gymnastics).