Krayzelburg Earns Second Gold in 200 Back!
September 21, 2000 | Men's Swimming & Diving
Sept. 21, 2000
LOS ANGELES - Former Trojan NCAA champion Lenny Krayzelburg became the first man since 1984 to sweep both Olympic backstroke races when he won the 200-meter back in an Olympic record time of 1:56.76 on Thursday at the Sydney Games.
Krayzelburg, who won the 100-meter back earlier in the week (also in an Olympic record time), fought off American teenage teammate Aaron Peirsol, who took the silver in 1:57.35. Krayzelburg's swim was the fourth-fastest ever and less than a second off of his world record of 1:55.87.
"My goal was to come in and win two individual gold medals," Krayzelburg said, "and I don't usually get too emotional, because I expect myself to win. But I think I'm a little bit in shock. I'm a little bit speechless right now."
Krayzelburg's win gives USC seven medals alone from its swimmers, which includes past, current and former Trojans. Only 13 countries have more than seven medals (through Sept. 21).
It is also the 100th gold medal won by an athlete with a USC affiliation.
USC's five swimmers who have won medals are all competing for the U.S. They are former All-Americans Krayzelburg, Lindsay Benko and Kim Black, current Trojan All-American Erik Vendt as well as an enrolled freshman Klete Keller.
In addition to Krayzelburg's two golds, Benko won a gold as part of the 800-meter free relay, Black did the same as part of the 800 relay prelim contingent, Vendt won a silver in the 400-meter individual medley and Keller won a bronze in the 400-meter freestyle and a silver as the anchor on the men's 800-meter free relay.
Krayzelburg was the first to win gold in Sydney - and kept USC's amazing Olympic streak alive. A Trojan has now won a gold medal in every summer Olympics since 1912. He will also compete for the U.S. in the 400-meter medley relay on the final day of the swimming competition (Sept. 23).
Vendt, who will be a sophomore at USC this year, is the fastest American ever in the 1500-meter freestyle and will vie for a second medal in the long-distance race on Sept. 23.
Athletes who attended USC before, during or after their Olympic appearance now have collected 100 golds, 58 silvers and 49 bronzes.
The Trojans' medal haul may increase in the coming days. Troy is represented by 36 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 333 Olympic athletes with a USC affiliation.
