Why does Puerto Rico have on Olympic team when they are part of the United States?

Answer

Puerto Rico is part of the American Commonwealth, similar to the way Canada and Australia are still part of the British Commonwealth without being integrated into the UK. It's a gray area of pseudo-sovereignty.

Indeed, if the USA were just a bit more loosely organized (like the EU), then all 50 of the US states could compete separately the way the various EU countries do. Many more Americans would then be able to "go to the dance" instead of squeezing each other out during pre-olympic qualifying.

• Which Olympic sport injures the most contestants?
• What Olympic games have Georgina and Caroline Evers-Swindell competed in?
• What color ring matchers what countries on the olympic flag?