By Dylan Hernandez
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Since the modern Olympics began in 1896, UCLA has had
unparalleled success at the Games. The school has sent 332 athletes
to the Games, with over half of them having won a medal. Of those
medals, 95 have been gold.
This summer, UCLA again expects to send its share of current and
former athletes to the Olympics in Sydney, Australia. For some
athletes, it will be a return trip, either to maintain their
position as the world’s best or to undo previous
disappointments. For others, it will be their opportunity to reach
a life-long dream. Then there is the group of those like Jess
Strutzel, a track and field All-American at 800 meters.
For Strutzel, who completed his fourth year of school this
spring, the Olympic dream started just last year.
As a high schooler at Huntington Beach, he was among the best in
the CIF Southern Section, but nowhere near the level of Michael
Granville of Bell Gardens. Granville ran 1:46.45 to set a national
record and qualify for the Olympic Trials. Strutzel, meanwhile,
lagged back in the 1:52s.
Yet, after a few years at UCLA, which both he and Granville
attended, Strutzel found himself to be the one closer to the
Olympics. Granville was hampered by a string of injuries and
Strutzel was competing in big meets without him. Strutzel’s
times were dropping and soon, he was among the best middle-distance
runners in college.
Last summer, Strutzel qualified for the USA Track and Field
championships and made the finals. Although he fizzled out in the
championship race, he knew he was close. If he could finish in the
top three at the Olympic Trials in one year, he would go to
Sydney.
“I can do this,” he told himself.
Since then, Strutzel has been training with the Olympics in
mind, joining hordes of other Bruins doing so.
Several of those UCLA stars will be playing on the softball
team, which captured gold in the ’96 Atlanta Games. Five
former Bruins, including current assistant coach Lisa Fernandez,
are on the squad, along with current UCLA slugger Stacey
Nuveman.
UCLA’s volleyball program should have a good showing, both
indoors and out. Dan Landry (1990-93), Jeff Nygaard (1992-95) and
Tom Stillwell (1995-98) are all part of the current U.S. indoor
national team. Also, fellow Bruin alum Kevin Wong is considered to
be one of the better players on the beach tour and will probably be
chosen for the Olympics.
For the women, Annette Davis (1991-94), Jenny Jordan (1992-95),
Liz Masakayan (1982-85) and Elaine Youngs (1988-92) also have a
good shot on the beach.
While former Bruin Reggie Miller (1984-97) was not selected to
be part of this year’s basketball “Dream Team,”
UCLA will have a roundball entrant in Sydney, as American
Basketball League’s 1998 MVP Natalie Williams (1991-94) is
currently on the national team roster.
On the soccer field, Pete Vagenas (1996-99) and Sasha Victorine
(1996-99), current teammates on the L.A. Galaxy, are also likely to
wear the American colors. Both are on the under-23 national team,
which will compete at the Games.
Steve McCain, a gymnast at UCLA between 1993 and 1994, has world
championship experience and a solid shot at making the squad.
Women’s water polo has four players currently on the national
team, while Bruin Sean Kern (1997-present) is on the men’s
national team.
In track, Gail Devers (1985-88), the defending women’s 100
meter champion, headlines the Bruin contingent. Men’s world
200 meter champion Ato Boldon (1995-96), representing Trinidad and
Tobago, and female shot-putter Seilala Sua (1997-2000) are also
gold medal contenders.
And of course, there is Strutzel.
Although medaling in Sydney is unlikely and his chances of
making the Games are marginal, Strutzel has been at UCLA’s
Drake Stadium running intervals on the track since the beginning of
the summer. His girlfriend, Ali Villagra, looked on, holding a
stopwatch.
“I’m a little nervous for him,” Villagra said,
referring to the Olympic Track Trials in late July. “I have
total confidence in him, though.”
Strutzel thinks training at Drake will give him the advantage he
needs.
“There’s a power here,” he said. “You
feel it. Everyday, you see great athletes training here and you
remember the ones that used to come here. It gives you
strength.”
OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL STANDINGS The United States
has consistently ranked in the top three countries in terms of gold
medals won. Of those those winning gold medalists, quite a few of
the winners have been from UCLA. The statistics show the number of
gold medals won by UCLA Athletes. 1984 in Los Angeles 1. United
States 83 2. Romania 20 3. West Germany 17 UCLA Athletes: 19 gold
medals 1988 in Seoul 1. Soviet Union 55 2. East Germany 37 3.
United States 36 UCLA Athletes: 17 gold medals 1992 in Barcelona 1.
United Team 45 2. United States 37 3. Germany 33 UCLA Athletes: 8
gold medals 1996 in Atlanta 1. United States 44 2. Russia 26 3.
Germany 20 UCLA Athletes: 12 gold medals
- More than half of UCLA’s Olympic athletes have earned medals.
It is the highest percentage among U.S. colleges. - UCLA has sent 332 athletes to the Olympic Games. Of them, 95
have earned gold medals, 46 have earned silver, and 42 have earned
bronze.
SOURCE: UCLA Athletics Department Original Graphic by JACOB
LIAO/Daily Bruin Web Adaptation by HERNANE TABAY/Daily Bruin Senior
Staff