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≡ RHINE-RUHR 2025 ≡
The World University Games has been going on since 1959, with U.S. participation ebbing and flowing over the decades. At present, the American team is put together by a group called UniUSA, with the University Games open to athletes aged 18-25 who have been in school within a year of the event.
At the last University Games, in Chengdu (CHN) in 2021, the U.S. won 23 medals, including one gold. At the prior Games in 2019, in Naples (ITA), the American team did better, with 53 medals and 21 golds.
The 2025 World University Games concluded on Sunday in Germany, a de-centralized program with 18 sports across six cities in Germany, called “Rhine-Ruhr 2025.”
And the U.S. team, thanks to USA Swimming, topped the medal table for the first time this century with 84 total medals, including 28 golds, 27 silvers and 29 bronzes. Japan had the most golds, with 34, and 79 total medals and China had 74 total medals, with 30 golds.
This was a stunning outcome, as the U.S. had not been at the top of the medal table since 1999, when the WUG was in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. In fact, it was the seventh time – in 32 editions – that the American team won the most medals:
● 2025: 84 at Rhine-Ruhr (GER)
● 1999: 61 at Palma de Mallorca (ESP)
● 1997: 61 at Sicily (ITA)
● 1995: 60 at Fukuoka (JPN)
● 1993: 71 at Buffalo (USA)
● 1991: 79 at Sheffield (GBR)
● 1987: 69 at Zagreb (YUG)
The U.S. has won more golds at a single WUG than in 2025, with 32 at Tokyo (JPN) in 1967, 31 in Buffalo in 1993 and 29 at Sheffield in 1991.
For 2025, USA Swimming decided to handle the American team, integrating it into its team selection process; because the WUG is not supported by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee – it was at one time, but no longer – U.S. National Governing Bodies are not required to support the event or select the team.
But for 2025, USA Swimming did and the results were smashing: 50 total medals, including 27 golds (all but one of the U.S. wins), 12 silvers and 11 bronzes. Wow.
The rest of the U.S. performances added up to 34 medals in 12 disciplines:
● 9: Diving (0-4-5)
● 7: Taekwondo (1-1-7)
● 5: Athletics (0-4-1)
● 2: Basketball/5×5 (0-2-0)
● 2: Water Polo (0-2-0)
● 2: Basketball/3×3 (0-1-1)
● 2: Basketball/wheelchair (0-0-2)
● 1: Archery (0-1-0)
● 1: Badminton (0-0-1)
● 1: Gymnastics/artistic (0-0-1)
● 1: Rowing (0-0-1)
● 1: Volleyball/beach (0-0-1)
The one non-swimming gold was the Mixed Pair Poomsae event in Taekwondo, won by Eric Gun and Kaitlyn Reclusado.
For most of the U.S. team, it was up to each individual to pay for their trip. The USA Diving notice was typical:
“The World University Games events will be self-funded. It is projected that the cost for each participant will be approximately $5,600 per athlete and $4,800 per coach. All potential participants, including alternates, must provide all required paperwork and proof of funding- Financial Responsibility Agreement to USA Diving by May 18, 2025.”
But with the efforts of the athletes in swimming and the other 12 disciplines, the U.S. did something not seen in 26 years: win the most medals at a World University Games!
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