University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Thirty-Two Bruins Head to London for 2012 Olympic Games
July 17, 2012 | Bruin Athletics, Olympics
July 17, 2012
A total of 32 UCLA Bruins will head to London, England for the 2012 Olympic Games, bringing UCLA's all-time total of Olympic appearances to 646. Of the 32, 24 are athletes (18 former, 4 current, 1 incoming, 1 former coach), and eight are coaches or delegation members. The Olympics begin July 25 with soccer games two days ahead of the Opening Ceremonies and will conclude on August 12.
A majority of UCLA's 2012 contingent will be representing the United States (22). Eight other countries will be represented by Bruins - Australia (1), Canada (2), Great Britain (2), Ireland (1), Korea (1), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (1) and Poland (1).
The sport with the most representation is track & field with eight athletes (five women and three men). UCLA Water Polo is represented well with three on the women's side (two players, one coach) and two on the men's side. Women's soccer has four players and one coach on three teams - two players and one coach on the U.S. team and one player each on Canada and New Zealand. The star-studded USA Men's Basketball squad features two prominent Bruin alums - Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook. Other sports represented by Bruins include women's gymnastics (3), men's tennis (2), men's volleyball (2), beach volleyball (2), rowing (1), women's volleyball (1) and badminton (1).
For 15 of UCLA's 2012 Olympians, this will be a return visit to the Olympics. Track and field's Amy Acuff is making her UCLA record-tying fifth Olympic appearance, making her one of five Bruins (along with fellow track legends Gail Devers, Francie Larrieu and Karin Smith and tennis player Mark Knowles) ever to be named to five Olympic teams. Current UCLA men's water polo head coach Adam Wright will be playing in his third Olympics. In 2008, he helped lead Team USA to a silver medal. Marathoner Meb Keflezighi is another three-time Olympian, having previously competed in 2004 (silver medalist in the marathon) and 2000 (10,000m runner). Former UCLA rowing assistant coach Mark Hunter also made his third Olympic team. Hunter won gold for Great Britain in the lightweight double scull in 2008. Pole vaulter Yoo Kim and tennis player Marcin Matkowski return for their third Olympic Games, representing Korea and Poland, respectively.
Other returning Olympic medalists are Lauren Cheney (gold with U.S. soccer in 2008), Dawn Harper (100m Hurdles champion in 2008), and Kelly Rulon (bronze with USA women's water polo in 2004). Hammer thrower Jessica Cosby made the U.S. Olympic squad for the second-straight Games. Three-time Olympic volleyball player Karch Kiraly will make his first Olympic appearance as a coach, serving as assistant coach for the U.S. women's volleyball squad. A few coaches also make return appearances for their respective teams - former women's soccer head coach Jillian Ellis (U.S. women's soccer assistant coach), new men's volleyball head coach John Speraw (USA men's volleyball assistant), former strength coach Bob Alejo (coach for U.S. beach volleyball team Dalhausser/Rogers), and UCLA alumnus Al Lau (U.S. beach volleyball delegation head).
Several of the 2012 UCLA Olympians will be back on campus in the fall - Wright, Speraw, women's soccer players Chelsea Stewart (Canada) and Rosie White (New Zealand), men's track & field's Julian Wruck (Australia), gymnasts Danusia Francis (Great Britain alternate) and Peng Peng Lee (Canada honorary captain), women's volleyball head coach Michael Sealy (U.S. men's volleyball scout coach, and U.S. badminton player Rena Wang, who is an undergraduate student at UCLA.
Other 2012 UCLA Olympians include U.S. water polo players Chay Lapin and Courtney Mathewson and women's head coach Adam Krikorian, U.S. soccer player Sydney Leroux, 2009 track and field team member Brittany Borman, U.S. gymnastics alternate Anna Li, Irish pole vaulter Tori Pena, and Dutch tennis player Jean-Julien Rojer.
2012 UCLA Olympians
Athletes
Amy Acuff - United States, Track & Field (High Jump)
Brittany Borman - United States, Track & Field (Javelin)
Lauren Cheney - United States, Soccer
Jessica Cosby - United States, Track & Field (Hammer)
Danusia Francis - Great Britain Gymnastics (Alternate)
Dawn Harper - United States, Track & Field (100m Hurdles)
*Mark Hunter - Great Britain, Rowing (Lightweight Double Scull)
Meb Keflezighi - United States, Track & Field (Marathon)
Yoo Kim - Korea, Track & Field (Pole Vault)
Chay Lapin - United States, Water Polo
Sydney Leroux - United States, Soccer
Anna Li - United States, Gymnastics (Alternate)
Kevin Love - United States, Basketball
Courtney Mathewson - United States, Water Polo
Marcin Matkowski - Poland, Tennis (Doubles)
Tori Pena - Ireland, Track & Field (Pole Vault)
Jean-Julien Rojer - Netherlands, Tennis (Doubles)
Kelly Rulon - United States, Water Polo
Chelsea Stewart - Canada, Soccer
Rena Wang - United States, Badminton (Singles)
Russell Westbrook - United States, Basketball
Rosie White - New Zealand, Soccer
Adam Wright - United States, Water Polo
Julian Wruck - Australia, Track & Field (Discus)
Coaches
*Bob Alejo - United States, Beach Volleyball (Dallhauser/Rogers coach)
*Jillian Ellis - United States, Soccer (Women's Asst. Coach)
Karch Kiraly - United States, Volleyball (Women's Asst. Coach)
Adam Krikorian - United States, Water Polo (Women's Head Coach)
Michael Sealy - United States, Volleyball (Men's Scout Coach)
John Speraw - United States, Volleyball (Men's Asst. Coach)
Delegation Members
Al Lau - United States, Beach Volleyball (team leader)
Peng Peng Lee - Canada, Gymnastics (honorary captain)
*former UCLA coach
2012 UCLA Olympians - by Sport
Women's Badminton (1)
Rena Wang - United States (Singles)
Men's Basketball (2)
Kevin Love - United States (Forward)
Russell Westbrook - United State (Guard)
Beach Volleyball (2)
Bob Alejo - United States (Coach - Dalhausser/Rogers)
Al Lau - United States (Team Leader)
Gymnastics (3)
Danusia Francis - Great Britain (Alternate)
Peng Peng Lee - Canada (Honorary Captain)
Anna Li - United States (Alternate)
Men's Rowing (1)
Mark Hunter - Great Britain (Lightweight Double Scull)
Women's Soccer (5)
Lauren Cheney - United States (Midfielder)
Jillian Ellis - United States (Asst. Coach)
Sydney Leroux - United States (Forward)
Chelsea Stewart - Canada (Defender)
Rosie White - New Zealand (Forward)
Men's Tennis (2)
Marcin Matkowski - Poland (Doubles)
Jean-Julien Rojer - Netherlands (Doubles)
Men's Track & Field (3)
Meb Keflezighi - United States (Marathon)
Yoo Kim - Korea (Pole Vault)
Julian Wruck - Australia (Discus)
Women's Track & Field (5)
Amy Acuff - United States (High Jump)
Brittany Borman - United States (Javelin)
Jessica Cosby - United States (Hammer)
Dawn Harper - United States (100m Hurdles)
Tori Pena - Ireland (Pole Vault)
Men's Volleyball (2)
Michael Sealy - United States (Scout Coach)
John Speraw - United States (Asst. Coach)
Women's Volleyball (1)
Karch Kiraly - United States (Asst. Coach)
Men's Water Polo (2)
Chay Lapin - United States (Goalkeeper)
Adam Wright - United States (Attacker)
Women's Water Polo (3)
Adam Krikorian - United States (Head Coach)
Courtney Mathewson - United States (Attacker)
Kelly Rulon - United States (Attacker)
