Since 1978, when the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee relocated from New York and later established the flagship U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center, Colorado Springs has been an Olympic hub.
In the decades following, it has continued to grow Olympic bonds and scope and establish itself as Olympic City USA. The Training Center sees about 15,000 athletes work towards their dreams each year, while dozens of National Governing Bodies and Paralympic Sport organizations headquarter here in Colorado Springs.
Other Olympic & Paralympic facilities have emerged, with the Colorado Springs Olympic & Paralympic Training Center Velodrome, the official training venue for U.S. Olympic & Paralympic track cycling and USA Roller Sports, built in 1983, and the Broadmoor World Arena Ice Hall, an official U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Site, rebuilt in 1998.
To celebrate and showcase this rich history, the country’s only U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum opened in 2020 in downtown Colorado Springs. It hosts the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame and tells stories of USA Olympics & Paralympics through artifacts, exhibits and media.
All these assets and resources have brought many athletes to Colorado Springs to train, and for some, to also study and earn an education at UCCS. The following Olympians & Paralympians are also members of the Mountain Lion family.
| Mountain Lion | Competing Sport | Graduation Year | College | Degree |
| Amber English | Shooting | 2012 | Beth-El College of Nursing & Health Sciences | Health Care Science |
| Beki Snyder | Shooting | 2007 | College of Business | Accounting |
| Brian Olson | Judo | 1981 | College of Business | Accounting |
| Carissa Gump | Weightlifting | 2010 | College of Business | Sport Management |
| Clarissa Chun | Wrestling | 2005 | College of Letters, Arts & Sciences | Communication |
| Frank Thompson | Shooting | 2011 | College of Business | Business Administration |
| Hillary Wolf Saba | Judo | 2001 | College of Letters, Arts & Sciences | English |
| Jason Brown | Figure Skating | 2021 | College of Letters, Arts & Sciences | Communication |
| Jason Turner | Shooting | 1999 | College of Letters, Arts & Sciences | Communication |
| Jeff Holguin | Shooting | 2006 | Beth-El College of Nursing & Health Sciences | Health Care Science |
| Jennifer Valente | Cycling | 2023 | College of Engineering & Applied Science | Mechanical Engineering |
| Jenny Arthur | Weightlifting | 2013 | College of Letters, Arts & Sciences | Undeclared |
| Kevin McDowell | Triathlon | 2016 | College of Business | Business Administration |
| Layla Almasri | Track & Field | 2021, 2023 | Beth-El College of Nursing & Health Sciences | Health Care Science, Health Promotion |
| Maddie Godby | Cycling | 2018 | Beth-El College of Nursing & Health Sciences | Health Care Science |
| Marcie Van Dusen | Wrestling | 2010 | College of Letters, Arts & Sciences | Geography & Environmental Studies |
| Mari Holden | Cycling | 2004 | College of Letters, Arts & Sciences | Philosophy |
| Natalie Woolfolk | Weightlifting | 2011 | College of Business | Sport Management |
| Orlando Fuentes | Judo | 2003 | College of Letters, Arts & Sciences | Economics |
| Ryan Reser | Judo | 2009 | College of Letters, Arts & Sciences | Communication |
| Sam Sacksen | Modern Pentathlon | 2013 | College of Letters, Arts & Sciences | Biology |
| Sarah Blakeslee | Shooting | 2008 | College of Letters, Arts & Sciences | Biology |
| Tommy O’Hare | Short-Track Speedskating | 2001 | College of Business | Finance |
| Wes Barnett | Weightlifting | 1994 | College of Letters, Arts & Sciences | Communication |