The International Olympic Committee's long-awaited 2016 site announcement came today and Rio de Janeiro beat out Chicago, Madrid and Tokyo for host responsibilities.

With all the buzz leading up to this selection, I have to admit I was a little disappointed when Chicago wasn't chosen. I had already begun to think of ways I could get involved--seeing as how my competing days are behind me--and saw opportunity for student-athletes to volunteer and experience the Olympics here in our backyard.

Alas, it wasn't in the cards for Chicago, but student-athlete participation remains part of the equation.

According to rivals.com, the Top 10 Olympic institutions alone accounted for 317 of the approximately 10,500 athletes that competed in Beijing's 2008 summer's Olympic Games.

Stanford, who produced the highest number of Olympians, had 46 student-athletes compete, placing them ahead of USC and UC Berkley who tied for second with 41.

While these student-athletes attend American universities, they do not necessarily compete on behalf of the United States at the Olympics. Stanford's swim team, for instance, had eight student-athletes compete and represent five different countries. The University of Florida, who was represented by 34 student-athletes, had 19 swimmers competing for 13 countries.

Student-athletes don't just compete on the international stage, they are successful. USC has won a gold medal in every Olympics since 1912 and won 21 medals in Beijing. According to the LA Times, if USC were a nation, its 21 medals would rank 13th in the world (or 17th, adjusted for same-team medals) and tied for eighth in gold. That's well ahead of running powerhouses such as Kenya (14 overall) and Jamaica (11). India, with more than 1 billion citizens, won three medals. South Africa, with 142 athletes, took home only one.

Exceptional student-athletes will continue to compete at the highest level in 2012, 2016 and for years to come, even if it means they have to travel a bit further to do it.