Princeton has a long and storied sports tradition. Today Princeton student-athletes participate in 19 men's and 17 women's varsity sports; more than half take part in either varsity or club athletic competitions.

Princeton students have played football since the 1840s, when intramural events in the quadrangle behind Nassau Hall pitted East vs. West colleges, Whig vs. Clio or "A-L" vs. "M-Z." On November 6, 1869, Princeton played Rutgers in the first-ever intercollegiate football game; Rutgers won 6-4, but Princeton won the second match 8-0, and went on to earn the first of almost 30 national football championships. Princeton football was a national powerhouse through the early decades of the 20th century, with no fewer than 50 Princetonians named first-team All-Americans and many making it to the NFL and Hall of Fame and a Heisman Trophy (Richard "Dick" Kazmaier '52 won the award in 1951).
Princeton has had organized baseball teams since 1857, playing its first outside game in 1860 and its first intercollegiate game in 1864.
Princeton played the first-ever ultimate Frisbee game — against Rutgers — on November 6, 1972.

Princeton Olympians | The Princeton All-Time Olympians |
2016 Olympics in Rio | The Road to Rio |
2012 Olympics in London | The Complete List of Princeton's 2012 Olympians |
2008 Olympics in Beijing | Meet Princeton's Olympians |