University Southern California Trojans
USC Swimmers Shine In Sydney
September 20, 2000 | Men's Swimming & Diving
Sept. 20, 2000
LOS ANGELES - USC swimmers - and the precious medals they're accumulating - continue to shine at the Sydney Olympics.
Former Trojan All-Americans Lenny Krayzelburg, Lindsay Benko and Kim Black, current Trojan All-American Erik Vendt as well as an incoming freshman (NCAA rules prohibit listing his name until he enrolls in school) have already totalled six medals - more than the overall medal counts for all but 12 countries through Wednesday (Aug. 20) in Sydney.
Krayzelburg was the first to win gold in Sydney - and keep USC's amazing Olympic streak alive. A Trojan has now won a gold medal in every summer Olympics since 1912.
He won his first in the 100-meter backstroke. Already the world record holder in the event, Krayzelburg won the race in an Olympic-record time of 53.72 to secure his first gold medal.
He has also qualified first for the finals of his specialty, the 200-meter back, in another Olympic record (1:57.27). Krayzelburg, the world record holder in that event, too, will swim in the finals on Thursday night (Sept. 21) in Australia. He will also compete for the U.S. in the 400-meter medley relay on the final day of the swimming competition (Sept. 23).
Benko, a 21-time All-American at USC who helped the Trojans win an NCAA title as a freshman in 1997, won her first gold medal as the third swimmer on the United States' first-place 800-meter freestyle relay. The unit set an Olympic record in 7:57.80.
Benko, who failed to qualify for the finals of the 200-meter free, will compete in the 200-meter backstroke Wednesday and Thursday (Sept. 20-21).
Black, who was a two-time All-American at USC in 1998, earned a gold medal as part of the U.S. squad that qualified first out of prelims in the 800-meter freestyle relay.
Vendt, who will be a sophomore at USC this year, won a silver medal in the 400-meter individual medley in 4:14.23 on Sept. 17. Also the fastest American ever in the 1500-meter freestyle, Vendt will vie for a second medal in the long-distance race on Sept. 23.
The only current two-time medal winner of the group is the aforementioned incoming freshman. He won a bronze in the 400-meter freestyle and was the anchor of the U.S.'s silver-medal winning 800-meter freestyle relay.
Athletes who attended USC before, during or after their Olympic appearance now have collected 99 golds, 58 silvers and 49 bronzes.
The Trojans' medal haul is very likely to increase in the coming days. Troy is represented by 35 past, present and future athletes competing in nine sports in the 2000 Sydney Games.
USC has sent more athletes to the Olympic Games than any other university. Since its first Olympian in 1904, there have been 332 Olympic athletes with a USC affiliation.
