A fiber optic socket contact includes a socket contact body and a capped sleeve containing a spring and a retention clip that engages a socket contact body. A fiber optic pin contact includes a pin contact body. One optical fiber is gripped by the socket contact body and another optical fiber is gripped by the pin contact body. When connector housings holding the fiber optic socket contact and the fiber optic pin contact are connected together, the fiber optic pin contact enters the capped sleeve which aligns the fiber optic pin contact with the fiber optic socket contact. The spring applies a force to keep the optical fibers pressed together. In preferred arrangements the fiber optic socket contact and the fiber optic pin contact have outer dimensions that substantially match outer dimensions specified for electrical socket and pin contacts.