UCLA's Olympic Tradition and Medal Winners
UCLA owns one of the richest Olympic traditions of any University. Some of the all-time Olympic greats, such as - Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Karch Kiraly, Lisa Fernandez and Florenth Griffith Joyner - to name a few, competed as undergraduates at UCLA.
Overall, UCLA has won 230 medals - 110 gold, 64 silver and 56 bronze. The Bruins have had at least one competitor in every Olympics since 1920 with one exception (1924), and UCLA has won a gold medal in every Olympics since 1932 with the exception of 1980 (boycott).
Over the past nine decades, 443 men and women athletes, coaches and trainers have represented UCLA in the Summer Olympic Games. The first two Bruin Olympians participated in 1920, just one year after the founding of the university. Edward S. Butler competed in the long jump and Clyde A. Swendsen was a member of the water polo team.
In the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, 41 Bruins participated as athletes or coaches and won 19 medals - 6 gold, 11 silver and 2 bronze (includes two gols and one silver for coaches)..
In the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, UCLA ranked No. 1 among all universities in number of different medalists (19) and number of Olympians (57 representing the United States and 13 foreign countries). Current and former Bruins earned a total of 19 medals, including eight gold, to rank second in both categories. UCLA also claimed three silver medals and eight bronze medals.
If UCLA were a country, it would have placed 14th overall in the medal count.
UCLA's total of 19 medals was surpassed only by the University of Texas (21). UCLA tied with USC for the second-highest gold medal total, three behind Texas.
Former Bruins Lisa Fernandez, Tairia Flowers, Amanda Freed, Stacey Nuveman and Natasha Watley earned goal medals as members of the USA softball team. Former UCLA women's soccer head coach Joy Fawcett won her second gold medal with the USA Soccer team. On the track, former Bruin Joanna Hayes captured gold in the 100m hurdles, and current Bruin Monique Henderson earned gold as part of the USA's winning 1,600m relay squad. Gymnast Mohini Bhardwaj won UCLA's first medal of the Games, a silver medal with the USA women in the gymnastics team competition. Australia's Tanya Harding also earned a team silver in softball. Mebrahtom Keflezighi capped the Olympic Games by winning the silver medal in the marathon. Eight Bruins won bronze medals - Holly McPeak and Elaine Youngs in beach volleyball and USA water polo players Robin Beauregard, Natalie Golda, Thalia Munro, Nicolle Payne, Kelly Rulon and Amber Stachowski.
Thirteen current and future UCLA student-athletes made Olympic teams - Kate Richardson (women's gymnastics), Tasha Schwikert (women's gymnastics alternate), Iris Mora (women's soccer), Malin Svahnstrom (women's swimming), Nicolette Teo (women's swimming), Monique Henderson (women's track & field), Yoo Kim (men's track & field), Brett Ormsby (men's water polo) and water polo players Natalie Golda, Thalia Munro, Kelly Rulon, Amber Stachowski and Gabrielle Domanic (alternate). Bruins comprised a large portion of the U.S. Olympic teams in softball (five), track and field (10), women's water polo (six plus the head coach and one alternate).
In 2000, UCLA ranked first amongst all universities with 17 different medalists and 58 Olympians. Current and former Bruins earned 18 medals, including eight gold, to rank second in both categories. UCLA also claimed five silver medals and five bronze medals.
UCLA athletes earned 22 medals in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. The 61 competitors and coaches earned 12 gold medals, two silver and eight bronze. Gail Devers and Ato Boldon were double winners, as Devers won gold medals in the 100 meters and the 4x100 meter relay, while Boldon captured bronze medals in the 100 and 200 meters.
In 1992, UCLA's 47 athletes and three coaches won a total of 16 medals - eight gold, two silver and six bronze - and participated in all three track and field world records.
In 1988, 31 current and former Bruins representing the United States and six other nations earned a total of 22 medals -- 17 gold, four silver and one bronze. If UCLA were a country, it would have placed fourth in the world with its 17 gold medals. Florence Griffith-Joyner (track) led the group with three gold medals.
• 2000 Olympians
• 2004 Olympians
Men's Track & Field - 44 (13 Gold, 16 Silver, 15 Bronze)
|
Ato Boldon (Trinidad)
|
100 meters
|
1996
|
Bronze
|
|
200 meters
|
1996
|
Bronze
|
|
100 meters
|
2000
|
Silver
|
|
200 meters
|
2000
|
Bronze
|
Benny Brown
|
4x400 meter relay
|
1976
|
Gold
|
James Butts
|
Triple Jump
|
1976
|
Silver
|
Wayne Collett
|
400 meter dash
|
1972
|
Silver
|
Craig Dixon
|
110 meter high hurdles
|
1948
|
Bronze
|
Danny Everett
|
4x400 meter relay
|
1988
|
Gold
|
|
400 meters
|
1988
|
Bronze
|
Greg Foster
|
110 meter high hurdles
|
1984
|
Silver
|
John Godina
|
Shot put
|
1996
|
Silver
|
|
Shot put
|
2000
|
Bronze
|
Millard Hampton
|
4x100 meter relay
|
1976
|
Gold
|
|
200 meter dash
|
1976
|
Silver
|
George Jefferson
|
Pole Vault
|
1932
|
Bronze
|
Mebrahtom Keflezighi
|
Marathon
|
2004
|
Silver
|
Rafer Johnson
|
Decathlon
|
1960
|
Gold
|
|
Decathlon
|
1956
|
Silver
|
Lloyd La Beach (Panama)
|
100 meter dash
|
1948
|
Bronze
|
|
200 meter dash
|
1948
|
Bronze
|
Dave Laut
|
Shot Put
|
1984
|
Bronze
|
Steve Lewis
|
400 meters
|
1988
|
Gold
|
|
4x400 meter relay
|
1988
|
Gold
|
|
400 meters
|
1992
|
Silver
|
|
4x400 meter relay
|
1992
|
Gold
|
Jimmy LuValle
|
400 meter dash
|
1936
|
Bronze
|
Mike Marsh
|
200 meter
|
1992
|
Gold
|
|
4x100 meter relay
|
1992
|
Gold
|
|
4x100 meter relay
|
1996
|
Silver
|
Robert McMillen
|
1500 meter run
|
1952
|
Silver
|
Maxie Parks
|
4x400 meter relay
|
1976
|
Gold
|
Andre Phillips
|
400 meter intermediate hurdles
|
1988
|
Gold
|
Mike Powell
|
Long Jump
|
1988
|
Silver
|
|
Long Jump
|
1992
|
Silver
|
George Roubanis (Greece)
|
Pole Vault
|
1956
|
Bronze
|
George Stanich
|
High Jump
|
1948
|
Bronze
|
Dwight Stones
|
High Jump
|
1972
|
Bronze
|
|
High Jump
|
1976
|
Bronze
|
Mike Tully
|
Pole Vault
|
1984
|
Silver
|
C. K. Yang (Republic of China)
|
Decathlon
|
1960
|
Silver
|
Cy Young
|
Javelin
|
1952
|
Gold
|
Bob Young
|
4x400 meter relay
|
1936
|
Silver
|
Kevin Young
|
400 meter intermediate hurdles
|
1992
|
Gold
|
Women's Track & Field - 28 (18, 5, 5)
|
Andrea Anderson
|
4x400 meter relay
|
2000
|
Gold
|
Evelyn Ashford
|
100 meters
|
1984
|
Gold
|
|
4x100 meter relay
|
1984
|
Gold
|
|
4x100 meter relay
|
1988
|
Gold
|
|
100 meters
|
1988
|
Silver
|
|
4x100 meter relay
|
1992
|
Gold
|
Jeanette Bolden
|
4x100 meter relay
|
1984
|
Gold
|
Gail Devers
|
100 meters
|
1992
|
Gold
|
|
100 meters
|
1996
|
Gold
|
|
4x100 meter relay
|
1996
|
Gold
|
Joanna Hayes
|
100 meter hurdles
|
2004
|
Gold
|
Monique Henderson
|
4x400 meter relay
|
2004
|
Gold
|
Sherri Howard
|
4x400 meter relay
|
1984
|
Gold
|
Florence Griffith Joyner
|
100 meters
|
1988
|
Gold
|
|
200 meters
|
1988
|
Gold
|
|
4x100 meter relay
|
1988
|
Gold
|
|
4x400 meter relay
|
1988
|
Silver
|
|
200 meters
|
1984
|
Silver
|
Jackie Joyner-Kersee
|
Heptathalon
|
1988
|
Gold
|
|
Long Jump
|
1988
|
Gold
|
|
Heptathalon
|
1984
|
Silver
|
|
Heptathalon
|
1992
|
Gold
|
|
Long Jump
|
1992
|
Bronze
|
|
Long Jump
|
1996
|
Bronze
|
Kate Schmidt
|
Javelin
|
1972
|
Bronze
|
|
Javelin
|
1976
|
Bronze
|
Janeene Vickers
|
400 meter intermediate hurdles
|
1992
|
Bronze
|
Marilyn White
|
4x100 meter relay
|
1964
|
Silver
|
Baseball - 2 (0, 0, 2)
|
Troy Glaus
|
1996
|
Bronze
|
Jim Parque
|
1996
|
Bronze
|
Gary Sanserino
|
1968
|
Gold*
|
* Denotes Exhibition Medal
Men's Basketball - 9 (9, 0, 0)
|
Sam Balter
|
1936
|
Gold
|
Don Barksdale
|
1948
|
Gold
|
Larry Brown
|
1964
|
Gold
|
Walt Hazzard
|
1964
|
Gold
|
Carl Knowles
|
1936
|
Gold
|
Frank Lubin
|
1936
|
Gold
|
Reggie Miller
|
1996
|
Gold
|
Don Piper
|
1936
|
Gold
|
Carl Shy
|
1936
|
Gold
|
Women's Basketball - 5 (2, 3, 0)
|
Ann Meyers
|
1976
|
Silver
|
Denise Curry
|
1984
|
Gold
|
Billie Moore (Head Coach)
|
1976
|
Silver
|
Gail Weldon (Trainer)
|
1976
|
Silver
|
Natalie Williams
|
2000
|
Gold
|
Women's Diving - 1 (1, 0, 0)
|
Jenny Chandler
|
3 meter springboard
|
1976
|
Gold
|
Men's Gymnastics - 12 (4, 3, 5)
|
Edward Carmichael
|
Vaulting Horse
|
1932
|
Bronze
|
Thomas Connolly
|
Rope Climb
|
1932
|
Bronze
|
Tim Daggett
|
Team
|
1984
|
Gold
|
|
Pommel Horse
|
1984
|
Bronze
|
Phillip Erenberg
|
Club Swinging
|
1932
|
Silver
|
Mitch Gaylord
|
Team
|
1984
|
Gold
|
|
Vault
|
1984
|
Silver
|
|
Rings
|
1984
|
Bronze
|
|
Parallel Bars
|
1984
|
Bronze
|
Peter Vidmar
|
Team
|
1984
|
Gold
|
|
Pommel Horse
|
1984
|
Gold
|
|
All-Around
|
1984
|
Silver
|
Women's Gymnastics - 7 (2, 5, 0)
|
Mohini Bhardwaj
|
Team
|
2004
|
Silver
|
Pam Bileck
|
Team
|
1984
|
Silver
|
Julianne McNamara
|
Uneven Bars
|
1984
|
Gold
|
|
Team
|
1984
|
Silver
|
|
Floor Exercise
|
1984
|
Silver
|
Kerri Strug
|
Team
|
1996
|
Gold
|
Tracee Talavera
|
Team
|
1984
|
Silver
|
Men's Rowing - 1 (0, 0, 1)
|
Kevin Still
|
Pairs with cox
|
1984
|
Bronze
|
Women's Rowing - 1 (1, 0, 0)
|
Carol Bower
|
Eights with cox
|
1984
|
Gold
|
Shooting - 1 (0, 1, 0)
|
Vic Auer
|
Small bore rifle, prone position (English match)
|
1972
|
Silver
|
Women's Soccer - 3 (2, 1, 0)
|
Joy Fawcett
|
1996
|
Gold
|
|
2000
|
Silver
|
|
2004
|
Gold
|
Softball - 22 (15, 1, 6)
|
Christie Ambrosi
|
2000
|
Gold
|
Joanne (Alchin) Brown (Australia)
|
1996
|
Bronze
|
2000
|
Bronze
|
Jennifer Brundage
|
2000
|
Gold
|
Kerry Dienelt (Australia)
|
1996
|
Bronze
|
2000
|
Bronze
|
Sheila (Cornell) Douty
|
1996
|
Gold
|
2000
|
Gold
|
Lisa Fernandez
|
1996
|
Gold
|
2000
|
Gold
|
2004
|
Gold
|
Tairia Flowers
|
2004
|
Gold
|
Amanda Freed
|
2004
|
Gold
|
Tanya Harding (Australia)
|
1996
|
Bronze
|
2000
|
Bronze
|
2004
|
Silver
|
Stacey Nuveman
|
2000
|
Gold
|
2004
|
Gold
|
Dot Richardson
|
1996
|
Gold
|
2000
|
Gold
|
Natasha Watley
|
2004
|
Gold
|
Christa Williams
|
1996
|
Gold
|
Men's Swimming - 22 (13, 7, 2)
|
Tom Bruce
|
4x100 meter medley relay
|
1972
|
Gold
|
|
100 meter breaststroke
|
1972
|
Silver
|
Mike Burton
|
400 meter freestyle
|
1968
|
Gold
|
|
1500 meter freestyle
|
1968
|
Gold
|
|
1500 meter freestyle
|
1972
|
Gold
|
Clay Evans
|
4x100 meter medley relay
|
1976
|
Silver
|
Steve Genter
|
4x200 meter freestyle relay
|
1972
|
Gold
|
|
200 meter freestyle
|
1972
|
Silver
|
|
400 meter freestyle
|
1972
|
Silver
|
Brian Goodell
|
400 meter freestyle
|
1976
|
Gold
|
|
1500 meter freestyle
|
1972
|
Gold
|
Bruce Hayes
|
4x200 meter freestyle relay
|
1984
|
Gold
|
Tom Jager
|
4x100 meter freestyle relay
|
1988
|
Gold
|
|
4x100 meter medley relay
|
1988
|
Gold
|
|
50 meter freestyle
|
1988
|
Silver
|
|
50 meter freestyle
|
1992
|
Bronze
|
|
4x100 meter freestyle relay
|
1992
|
Gold
|
Craig Oppel
|
4x200 meter freestyle relay
|
1988
|
Gold
|
Mark Stockwell
|
100 meter freestyle
|
1984
|
Silver
|
|
4x100 meter freestyle relay
|
1984
|
Silver
|
|
4x100 meter medley relay
|
1984
|
Bronze
|
Zac Zorn
|
4x100 meter freestyle relay
|
1968
|
Gold
|
Women's Swimming - 18 (11, 7, 0)
|
Shirley Babashoff
|
4x100 meter freestyle
|
1972
|
Gold
|
|
4x100 meter freestyle
|
1976
|
Gold
|
|
100 meter freestyle
|
1972
|
Silver
|
|
200 meter freestyle
|
1972
|
Silver
|
|
200 meter freestyle
|
1976
|
Silver
|
|
400 meter freestyle
|
1976
|
Silver
|
|
800 meter freestyle
|
1976
|
Silver
|
|
4x100 medley relay
|
1976
|
Silver
|
Donna deVarona
|
400 meter individual medley
|
1964
|
Gold
|
|
4x100 meter freestyle relay
|
1964
|
Gold
|
Debbie Meyer
|
200 meter freestyle
|
1968
|
Gold
|
|
400 meter freestyle
|
1968
|
Gold
|
|
800 meter freestyle
|
1968
|
Gold
|
Annette Salmeen
|
800 meter freestyle relay
|
1996
|
Gold
|
Dana Schoenfield Reyes
|
200 meter breaststroke
|
1972
|
Silver
|
Lillian "Pokey" Watson Richardson
|
4x100 meter freestyle relay
|
1968
|
Gold
|
|
200 meter backstroke
|
1972
|
Gold
|
Karen Moe Thornton
|
200 meter butterfly
|
1972
|
Gold
|
Men's Volleyball - 8 (7, 0, 1)
|
Karch Kiraly
|
1984
|
Gold
|
1988
|
Gold
|
Ricci Luyties
|
1988
|
Gold
|
Doug Partie
|
1988
|
Gold
|
1992
|
Bronze
|
Steve Salmons
|
1984
|
Gold
|
Dave Saunders
|
1984
|
Gold
|
1988
|
Gold
|
Men's Beach Volleyball - 2 (2, 0, 0)
|
Karch Kiraly
|
1996
|
Gold
|
Kent Steffes
|
1996
|
Gold
|
Women's Volleyball - 3 (0, 1, 2)
|
Jeanne Beauprey Reeves
|
1984
|
Silver
|
(Head Coach) Fred Sturm
|
1992
|
Bronze
|
(Asst. Coach) Greg Giovanazzi
|
1992
|
Bronze
|
Women's Beach Volleyball - 2 (0, 0, 2)
|
Holly McPeak
|
2004
|
Bronze
|
Elaine Youngs
|
2004
|
Bronze
|
Men's Water Polo - 8 (0, 1, 7)
|
Bruce Bradley
|
1972
|
Bronze
|
Stan Cole
|
1972
|
Bronze
|
Jamie Ferguson
|
1972
|
Bronze
|
Eric Lindroth
|
1972
|
Bronze
|
Monte Nitzkowski (Head Coach)
|
1972
|
Bronze
|
James Slatton
|
1972
|
Bronze
|
Joe Vargas
|
1984
|
Silver
|
Russ Webb
|
1972
|
Bronze
|
Women's Water Polo - 9 (0, 3, 6)
|
Robin Beauregard
|
2000
|
Silver
|
2004
|
Bronze
|
Natalie Golda
|
2004
|
Bronze
|
Thalia Munro
|
2004
|
Bronze
|
Nicolle Payne
|
2000
|
Silver
|
2004
|
Bronze
|
Kelly Rulon
|
2004
|
Bronze
|
Coralie Simmons
|
2000
|
Silver
|
Amber Stachowski
|
2004
|
Bronze
|
Wrestling - 2 (2, 0, 0)
|
Dave Schultz
|
1984
|
Gold
|
Mark Schultz
|
1984
|
Gold
|
Yachting - 3 (3, 0, 0)
|
John Biby Jr.
|
8 meter class
|
1932
|
Gold
|
William Cooper
|
8 meter class
|
1932
|
Gold
|
Richard Moore
|
8 meter class
|
1932
|
Gold
|