1

The US: The ultimate Olympic host

Image: Obed Hernández

If hosting the Olympics were a sport, the US would take home the gold medal, as America has welcomed the Games eight times —more than any other country.

The Summer Olympics have taken place in St. Louis (1904), Los Angeles (1932, 1984), and Atlanta (1996), while the Winter Olympics have been held in Lake Placid (1932, 1980), Squaw Valley (1960), and Salt Lake City (2002).

And that’s not the end—Los Angeles is gearing up for 2028, so it’s safe to say the torch never stays away for too long!

2

Winning more medals than anyone else

Image: Ethan Wilkinson

If there’s one thing Team USA knows how to do, it’s win medals—a lot of them. As of 2024, the US has claimed a staggering 2,765 Summer Olympic medals (including 1,105 golds) and 330 Winter Olympic medals . No other country even comes close.

Whether on the track, in the pool, or on the ice, American athletes have consistently outperformed the competition.

3

Dominating track, field, and the pool

Image: Austris Augusts

Certain sports just seem to bring out the best in American athletes . From Jesse Owens on the track to Katie Ledecky in the pool to Carl Lewis soaring through the air, American athletes have rewritten the record books time and time again.

In track and field, for example, the US holds the record for the most gold medals, with over 400.

When it comes to swimming, Team USA has made an even bigger splash, earning more than 570 total Olympic medals—the most in any single sport.

4

Michael Phelps: The GOAT of the Olympics

Image: Braden Egli

Speaking of rewriting the record books, we need to talk about Michael Phelps—the most decorated Olympian of all time.

With 28 medals (23 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze) , the legendary swimmer dominated the pool across five Olympic Games. His eight gold medals at Beijing 2008 were a record-breaking feat, proving that when it comes to Olympic greatness, no one comes close. Phelps didn’t just set records—he shattered them, leaving behind a legacy that may never be topped.

5

Winter Games greatness: Apolo Ohno’s record run

Image: Filip

While the Summer Olympics have clearly brought in the most medals, the US has had its fair share of Winter Olympic heroes.

The most decorated of them all? Apolo Ohno , the short-track speed skating sensation. Ohno raced to eight Olympic medals, cementing his place as America’s greatest Winter Olympian. You simply had to watch him dodge crashes, make last-second moves, and celebrate with his signature goatee.

6

When the US brought home 83 golds in one year

Image: Viktor Forgacs

The 1984 Los Angeles Olympics marked a golden era for Team USA—and we mean that quite literally.

With the Soviet Union and several other countries boycotting the Games, American athletes dominated, winning 83 gold medals —the most ever at a single Summer Olympics.

7

The only time the US won just one gold

Image: Matthew Fournier

But it wasn’t always like that—there were times when the story went differently for Team USA. While 1984 was all about collecting golds, 1980 was a different story.

That year, Team USA won only one gold medal… but what a gold it was! The US men’s hockey team, made up of young college players, pulled off the famous "Miracle on Ice , " defeating the heavily favored Soviet team before going on to win gold. One gold medal? Sure. But it was one of the greatest moments in Olympic history.

8

A medal sweep like no other

Image: Mia de Jesus

The 1904 St. Louis Olympics were unlike any other—and not just because it was the first time the Games were held in the US.

Due to travel difficulties and a lack of international participation, Team USA won over 80% of all medals awarded . While it wasn’t exactly a fair fight, it still stands as the biggest medal sweep in Olympic history. Sometimes, just showing up is half the battle, you know?

9

Youngest US champion: A 13-year-old diving prodigy

Image: Austrian National Library

Most Olympic champions train for years before making their mark—but that wasn’t the case for Marjorie Gestring , who won a gold medal in diving at just 13 years and 268 days old at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. While most kids her age were just starting middle school, she was standing atop the Olympic podium. To this day, she remains the youngest US Olympic champion ever.

10

Simone Biles: The queen of US gymnastics

Image: Brian Wangenheim

When it comes to American gymnastics, Simone Biles is in a league of her own. With 11 Olympic medals (7 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze), she is the most decorated US female gymnast in history.

Her powerful routines, gravity-defying skills, and unmatched mental toughness have made her an icon, inspiring future generations of gymnasts. Whether she’s flipping, twisting, or making history, Biles continues to raise the bar—literally.

1

"The Star-Spangled Banner"

Arguably the most quintessential American song of all , its lyrics originated as a poem during the War of 1812, inspired by the experiences of Francis Scott Key during the British bombardment of Fort McHenry.

Surviving several controversies —from the violent content of its full lyrics to whether it is (or isn’t) easy to sing— "The Star-Spangled Banner", officially adopted as the U.S.’s national anthem in 1931, is now a symbol of unity and pride for many Americans.

2

"America the Beautiful"

Once a strong contender for the official U.S. national anthem, this song celebrates the beauty of America, from the ideals upon which it was founded to the natural wonders within its borders .

Written by Katharine Lee Bates in 1893 and inspired by the landscape of Pikes Peak in Colorado, the song reflects the American dream of a more just and unified nation.

3

"This Land Is Your Land"

A 1940 folk song by Woody Guthrie, this song was written as a response to idealized patriotism that overlooked the everyday struggles of the common American citizen .

A product of a society that was still overcoming the Great Depression, the song emphasizes the idea of the country as belonging to all its people.

4

Yankee Doodle

Originally written by British soldiers in 1755 to mock colonial soldiers during the French and Indian War, and popularized during the Revolutionary War the song was later reclaimed by American soldiers after the Battle of Yorktown and turned into a symbol of independence.

What was initially meant as a mockery of " Yankee" (a New Englander) " doodle" (a fool or simpleton) became a source of pride and one of the most iconic American nursery rhymes.

5

"Georgia on My Mind"

Composed in the 1930s by Hoagy Carmichael with lyrics by Stuart Gorrell, but famously covered by Ray Charles in 1960, this heartfelt ballad became an anthem for Southern nostalgia and love for the land .

A powerful ode to homesickness, it was adopted as the official state song of Georgia in 1979.

6

"I Walk the Line"

Released in 1956 by country legend Johnny Cash, this iconic hit works as a pledge of devotion and faithfulness in the face of temptation.

Despite being written by Cash for his first wife Vivian, the song has since been widely interpreted as a promise of staying true to oneself.

7

"Take Me Home, Country Roads"

One of the most well-known country songs of all time, the lyrics of "Take Me Home, Country Roads" were in part inspired by Maryland’s scenery as songwriter John Denver returned home for a family reunion.

Adopted as one of the official state anthems of West Virginia (due to a mention of the state in the lyrics), the song captures the fond feelings and sense of nostalgia associated with one’s hometown .

8

"Fortunate Son"

The anti-war anthem of the late 1960s, Creedence Clearwater Revival’s "Fortunate Son" , first recorded in 1969, critiques a flawed system that favors the privileged few .

Addressing inequalities in the U.S. military draft system, which often excused those well-connected or placed them in safe positions while others were sent to the front lines, the song’s message has remained relevant for decades.

9

"Sweet Home Alabama"

Written in part as a response to Neil Young's "Southern Man" and "Alabama," which were interpreted by some as blaming the entirety of the South for slavery and segregation, the 1974 Lynyrd Skynyrd song "Sweet Home Alabama" became an anthem of Southern pride in the face of prejudice and generalizations.

Sadly, the song has sometimes been misinterpreted as favorable towards segregationist policies, though members of the band have expressed their opposition to these ideas.

10

"Born in the U.S.A."

Famously considered an anthem of national pride, many fail to recognize Bruce Springsteen’s "Born in the U.S.A." (1984) as a song of protest, written during the aftermath of the Vietnam War .

Describing the alienation suffered by returning veterans, its lyrics reflect the disillusionment of those who had defended American ideals, only to feel abandoned upon their return.

1

Venomous Snakes

Image: Dan LeFebvre

You have heard of the rattlesnake , right? There are 16 members of this family of venomous snakes alone in the United States. That is one dangerous family if you ask me. Aside from those, you can also bump into a coral , a cottonmouth , and a copperhead snake, all in the same country, all venomous too.

Unfortunately, snakebite victims often don’t know a snake has bitten them until it is too late. The best strategy is to not get bitten in the first place but, if you are bitten, you should get to an emergency room as soon as possible. Try not to move the bitten limb as this increases blood flow and spreads the venom faster throughout your body.

2

Black Widow and Recluse Spiders

Image: Lena Taranenko

Lucky for us, out of the 3,000 plus species of spiders that can be found in the United States, only 2 are known to be venomous. Those are the Recluse Spider and the infamous Black Widow .

If not treated in due time, Black Widows and recluse spiders are especially dangerous and even deadly to children, the elderly, and the sick. Luckily, these spiders are mostly rare to encounter. Nonetheless, you should always remain vigilant, particularly when it comes to Black Widows. These dangerous creatures tend to live in closer proximity to humans and their bites are extremely painful and can have long-lasting consequences.

3

Hornets, Bees, and Wasps

Image: Mohsen Bagherzadeh

What is worse than a venomous creature? A venomous creature that flies! Hornets, wasps, and bees kill far more Americans each year than any other animal. Understandably, most of these deaths are due to allergies, but this shouldn’t diminish the risk, as the majority of victims likely did not know they were allergic in the first place.

One of the most dangerous species, killer bees , also known as Africanized Bees, attack in swarms, often with devastating results. Upon any detection of a threat to their hive, an individual can be chased for up to a quarter of a mile. Although the venom from an individual sting is not considered to be particularly potent, simultaneous stings can lead to excess swelling, pain, and potential death if the recipient is allergic to bee stings.

4

Scorpions

Image: Leon Pauleikhoff

One of the most menacing-looking creatures around, the scorpion is an arachnid with a venomous sting. Its weapon of choice is its stinger on the end of its tail, used to inject venom into un-expecting enemies or predators.

Moreover, scorpions are also equipped with pincers, though these cannot cause substantial damage to a human; it is considered to be the case that the smaller the pincers, the stronger the venom, so watch out for miniature claws in the summer. When it comes to particular members of the species, the Arizona Bark Scorpion is the most potent one in the USA and carries a potentially lethal sting.

5

Gila Monster

Image: David Clode

A creature with an epic name if we ever saw one, the Gila Monster is the only venomous lizard in the United States. And, even though they are venomous, Gila Monsters rely more on their powerful crushing jaws to subdue their prey.

If you happen to find a Gila Monster, observe this dangerous animal from a safe distance.

Though it isn’t fatal, the Gila Monster’s bite is excruciatingly painful. These lizards have small, razor-sharp teeth that dig into the skin and inject their venom. The effects can last for hours or days, depending on how much venom someone is exposed to.

6

Colorado River Toad

Image: Jaunathan Gagnon

A toad with a psychedelic reputation, the Colorado River Toad releases a venom that is illegally harvested and used as a hallucinogenic drug, and it is even classified as a controlled substance.

It is also dangerous to most animals and large dogs who accidentally eat them have been known to be paralyzed or even die from the poison. Never handle this toad with your bare hands, and keep your pets away from them as well.

7

Ticks

Image: Adrian Siaril

A nasty little creature, the tick is one of the most dangerous animals in the United States. While ticks sometimes live indoors, they’re most commonly found in grassy or wooded areas with water nearby. They wait on tall grasses for a host to pass, then jump onto the living creature and attach to start feeding.

These insects are considered dangerous because they can spread disease when they pierce the skin. Although there isn’t a hard and fast rule, it’s accepted that the longer a tick is attached, the higher the risk of infection. If you notice a tick on your skin, you should remove it with a tick key, wash the area with soap and water, and contact your doctor.

8

Kissing Bugs

Image: James Wainscoat

Don’t be fooled by their colorful appearance, there is nothing nice about these insects. Kissing Bugs gets its name from the habit of biting near their victims’ mouths. These insects carry a parasite that causes Chagas disease. Although it’s treatable in its early stages, if an infection is left untreated, it can cause a chronic, lifelong illness.

Initial symptoms of this disease include fever, fatigue, body aches, headache, rash, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and vomiting. One of the easiest ways to prevent Kissing Bug bites is to use mosquito netting and insect repellent while you’re in areas where these insects live. Also, make sure to follow up with a doctor if you notice bites or sores around your mouth and nose.

9

Common Desert Centipede

Image: Viktor Talashuk

Centipedes are one of the strangest-looking insects and many people fear them because of their aspect. The Common Desert Centipede is a pale orangey-brown color with lateral black stripes. It’s best to avoid this centipede in the United States.

The bite of the Common Desert Centipede is one of the most painful bites possible from an arthropod. Much worse than a wasp sting, it has been compared to the Bullet Ant Sting and will almost certainly send you to the emergency room. The venom spreads after the initial bite, and the pain worsens until you seek treatment.

10

Fire Ants

Image: oktavianus mulyadi

The name itself is not the most reassuring one. Fire ants are a group of stinging ants made up of over 200 individual species, all of which sting, with varying levels of pain. Additionally, they’re more aggressive than other ant species.

These insects form large colonies and usually eat insects, plants, and flowers. However, if their nests are disturbed, they won’t hesitate to swarm and sting large animals, including humans. Unfortunately, their stings are quite painful and are often compared to the feeling of being burned by an open flame.