UCLA ranked amongst the nation's most successful universities at the recently completed Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, ranking No. 1 among all universities in number of different medalists (19) and number of Olympians (56 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).

Overall, UCLA has won 214 medals - 106 gold, 54 silver and 54 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).

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.

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.

UCLA's 2004 Olympic Medalists

Gold (8)
Joy Fawcett - Women's Soccer
Amanda Freed - Softball
Lisa Fernandez - Softball
Tairia Flowers - Softball
Joanna Hayes - Women's Track & Field (100m hurdles)
Monique Henderson - Women's Track & Field (1600m Relay)
Stacey Nuveman - Softball
Natasha Watley - Softball

Silver (3)
Mohini Bhardwaj - Women's Gymnastics
Tanya Harding - Softball (Australia)
Mebrahtom Keflezighi - Men's Marathon

Bronze (8)
Robin Beauregard - Women's Water Polo
Natalie Golda - Women's Water Polo
Holly McPeak - Women's Beach Volleyball
Thalia Munro - Women's Water Polo
Nicolle Payne - Women's Water Polo
Kelly Rulon - Women's Water Polo
Amber Stachowski - Women's Water Polo
Elaine Youngs - Women's Beach Volleyball