Costa Wins Gold at Pan Am Games
August 05, 1999 | Men's Swimming & Diving
August 5, 1999
Sophomore Leonardo Costa, the latest in a string of talented Trojan backstrokers, continued USC's dominance in the event by winning the gold medal in record fashion in the 200-meter backstroke at the Pan Am Games on Wednesday (Aug. 4) in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Costa, who was a two-time All-American in his first season at USC, swam a 1:59.33 to win, setting a Pan Am Games record and joining a select group of swimmers who have swam under two minutes. Swimming in lane 2, he came from behind in the last 50 meters for the win, edging American teenager Aaron Peirsol (1:59.77) for the win.
Costa, the Brazilian national backstroke champion, is taking after former Trojans Lenny Krayzelburg and Brad Bridgewater. Krayzelburg was a two-time backstroke winner at the 1998 World Championships and Bridgewater won the gold medal in the 200m back at the 1996 Olympics.
