University Southern California Trojans
USC Athletes Have Won 13 Olympic Medals In Sydney
Sept. 28, 2000
LOS ANGELES - Heading into the final weekend of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, USC athletes of the past, present and future have claimed 13 medals...with the possibility of several more before the Games conclude.
Trojans have won 7 golds medals, as well as 3 each of silver and bronze.
The majority of USC's gold medal haul came in swimming, with former Trojan All-American Lenny Krayzelburg winning the 100-meter backstroke and 200 backstroke and participating in the USA's victorious 400 medley relay.
A pair of ex-Trojan All-Americans--Lindsay Benko and Kim Black--won gold as part of the USA's winning 800 freestyle relay.
And two members of the USA's gold medal softball team have USC ties: Dot Richardson, who studied at USC's Medical School, and Sheila Cornell Douty, who earned a master's degree from Troy.
Current USC sophomore Erik Vendt captured a silver in the 400 individual medley, and incoming freshman Klete Keller was part of the USA's silver medal-winning 800 freestyle relay and then captured bronze in the 400 freestyle.
Former Trojan All-American goalie Bernice Orwig earned a silver with the USA women's water polo squad.
One-time USC trackster Mark Crear got the bronze in the 100-meter high hurdles. And ex-Trojan diver Dorte Lindner of Germany earned a bronze in the 3-meter springboard event.
Among the Trojans who have a shot of a medal this weekend are Lisa Leslie (women's basketball), sprinters Torri Edwards and Inger Miller, water poloist Robert Lynn and sailor Russ Silvestri.
Incoming USC women's volleyball coach Mick Haley is guiding the USA women's team in its attempt for a bronze medal this weekend.
In all, 33 athletes with a USC affiliation have competed in Sydney.
USC has sent more athletes to the Olympic Games than any other university, Since 1904, there have been 341 athletes who attended USC before, during or after their Olympic appearance. They have collected 213 medals (103 golds, 59 silver and 51 bronze), including at least one gold medal in every summer Olympics since 1912.
