For many athletes, there is no greater honor than representing Team USA at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Most athletes consider it a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity. However, this group of individuals was able to compete at the Games not just once, but at least six times.
Only 18 U.S. athletes in the history of the modern Games have competed at six or more Games, including 11 Olympians and seven Paralympians.
Candace Cable stands out among the group with a U.S.-record nine Paralympic appearances, competing in three sports: alpine skiing, Nordic skiing and track and field. She won 12 medals and was the first U.S. woman to medal at both the summer and winter editions of the Games.
Para table tennis player Michael Dempsey and Para alpine skier/Para-cyclist Allison Jones competed at eight each, with a combined 17 medals between them.
On the Olympic side, equestrian J. Michael Plumb was on eight Olympic teams from 1960 to 1992. He won two team eventing titles—first at the Olympic Games Montreal 1976 and again at the Olympic Games Los Angeles 1984—as well as four silver medals. Plumb remains the only equestrian rider to be inducted in the the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame.
Kim Rhode, a six-time Olympian, is the only woman—regardless of sport or nation—to medal at six consecutive Games. To boot, Rhode is still competing and has her sights set on the Paris 2024 Games and Los Angeles 2028 Games.
From Jen Armbruster to Trischa Zorn, learn more about each legendary athlete with a look back at some of their Team USA headshots below.
(Not pictured in the gallery are Para table tennis player Michael Dempsey [eight Games from 1972 to 2000], Para swimmer Kathryne Lynne Carlton [six Games from 1980 to 2000 and Susan Hagel [six Games from 1976 to 1996]).
