University Southern California Trojans
Athletics News
July 22, 1996
Thirty Trojans To Compete In 1996 Summer Olympics; USC's Amazing Gold Medal Streak On The LineLOS ANGELES, CA -- USC will be represented by 30 past, present and future athletes at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. USC has sent more athletes to the Olympic Games than any other university. From 1904 to 1992, there have been 281 athletes who attended USC before, during or after their Olympic appearance. They have collected 188 medals (87 gold, 55 silver and 46 bronze), including at least one gold medal in every summer Olympics since 1912. USC Olympians have represented 37 countries and participated in 23 sports. Leading candidates to keep USC's gold-medal streak alive in 1996 include 6 Americans--4-time gold medalist swimmer Janet Evans (800-meter freestyle), centerfielder Jacque Jones, center Lisa Leslie, softballers Dot Richardson and Sheila Cornell, and sprinter Inger Miller (400-meter relay)--plus hammer thrower Balazs Kiss of Hungary. Of USC's 1996 Olympians, 11 will compete in track and field, 10 in swimming, 2 in volleyball, 2 in softball, 2 in tennis, 1 in basketball, 1 in baseball and 1 in diving. In all, Trojans will compete for the United States and 13 other countries (Australia, Belgium, Ecuador, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Jamaica, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, Spain, Zimbabwe) in 8 different sports. Besides Evans, who competed in the 1988 and 1992 Olympics, this will be repeat Olympic appearances for Trojan swimmers Desmond Koh of Singapore (1992), Arthur Li of Hong Kong (1988 and 1992), John Steel of New Zealand (1992) and Bjorn Zikarsky of Germany (1988), tracksters Jean-Paul Bruwier of Belgium (1992), Sau Ying Chan of Hong Kong (1992), Udeme Ekpenyong of Nigeria (1992) and Jesus Olivan of Spain (1992), volleyballers Bryan Ivie (1992) and Paula Weishoff (1984 and 1992) of the U.S., and diver Maria Elena Romero of Mexico (1992). Miller's father, Lennox, was a silver medalist in 1968 and bronze medalist in 1972 in the 100-meter dash for Jamaica (he also competed at USC). Koh is one of 3 Trojan athletes who have earned a Rhodes Scholarship. USC head swim coach Mark Schubert will serve as an assistant coach for the U.S. women's team. The following is a list of USC's 1996 Summer Olympians (as of July 22):
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