Nearly 100 UCLA Olympians, including 26 gold medalists, will gather this weekend for a reunion hosted by UCLA Athletics, in partnership with LA2024.
The reunion will kick off on the evening of Friday, Sept. 23 with a dinner and reception, hosted by UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero and LA2024 chairman Casey Wasserman, at a private home in Brentwood.
On Saturday, Sept. 24, the UCLA Olympians will attend the UCLA-Stanford football game at the Rose Bowl and join the THEN NOW FOREVER tailgate prior to the 5pm contest. Fans at the game are encouraged to remain in their seats at halftime as the entire group of UCLA Olympians will be recognized on the field during the intermission.
Among the nearly 100 participants in UCLA's Olympian Reunion are 45 medalists, 26 of whom won gold, including three-time gold-medalists Lisa Fernandez (softball) and Mike Burton (men's swimming). All six of UCLA's gold medalists from the 2016 Rio Olympics will be in attendance, including gymnast Madison Kocian and USA Women's Water Polo players KK Clark, Rachel Fattal, Sami Hill, Courtney Mathewson and Maddie Musselman.
Three Olympians will serve as UCLA Football's honorary captains for this game – 1960 decathlon gold medalist Rafer Johnson, his daughter and two-time Olympian Jenny Johnson Jordan, and Adam Krikorian, who coached the USA Women's Water Polo team to gold in both 2012 and 2016.
Overall, a total of 424 UCLA students and coaches have combined to make 687 Olympic appearances, winning 261 medals (133 gold, 66 silver and 62 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 in which the U.S. competed since 1932.
UCLA Olympian Reunion Attendees
Steve Alford, M. Basketball – 1984 (Gold)
Mike Altman, Rowing – 2004, 2008
Andrea Anderson, W. Track & Field – 2000 (Gold)
Paul Becskehazy, M. Swimming – 1972
Ato Boldon, M. Track & Field – 1992, 1996 (2 Bronze), 2000 (Silver, Bronze), 2004
Brandon Brooks, M. Water Polo – 2004, 2008 (Silver)
Mike Burton, M. Swimming – 1968 (2 Gold), 1972 (Gold)
James Butts, M. Track & Field – 1976 (Silver)
KK Clark, W. Water Polo – 2016 (Gold)
Amanda Cromwell, W. Soccer – 1996
Denise Curry, W. Basketball – 1980, 1984 (Gold)
Annett (Buckner) Davis, W. Beach Volleyball – 2000, 2004
Kerry Dienelt, Softball – 1996 (Bronze), 2000 (Bronze)
Craig Dixon, M. Track & Field – 1948 (Bronze)
Sheila (Cornell) Douty, Softball – 1996 (Gold), 2000 (Gold)
Daniel Drown, M. Water Polo – 1964
Andrea Duran, Softball – 2008 (Silver)
Keith Erickson, M. Volleyball – 1964
Rafael Escalas, M. Swimming – 1980, 1984
Nagalingam Ethirveerasingam, M. Track & Field – 1952, 1956
Rachel Fattal, W. Water Polo – 2016 (Gold)
James Ferguson, M. Water Polo – 1972 (Bronze)
Lisa Fernandez, Softball – 1996 (Gold), 2000 (Gold), 2004 (Gold), 2008
Jessie Fleming, W. Soccer – 2016 (Bronze)
Greg Foster, M. Track & Field – 1984 (Silver)
Cindy Gilbert, W. Track & Field – 1972
Brian Goodell, M. Swimming – 1976 (2 Gold), 1980
Marci (Bernholtz) Guzman, W. Gymnastics – 2004
Dan Hackett, M. Water Polo – 1996, 2000
Joanna Hayes, W. Track & Field – 2004 (Gold)
Kathy Heddy, W. Swimming – 1976
Monique Henderson, W. Track & Field – 2000, 2004 (Gold), 2008 (Gold)
Carl Henkel, M. Beach Volleyball - 1996
Sami Hill, W. Water Polo – 2016 (Gold)
Charlie Jackson, W. Beach Volleyball (Team Leader) – 2000
Rafer Johnson, M. Track & Field – 1956 (Silver), 1960 (Gold)
Jenny Johnson Jordan, W. Beach Volleyball – 2000, 2004
Sean Kern, M. Water Polo – 2000
Madison Kocian, W. Gymnastics – 2016 (Gold, Silver)
Jaime (Hipp) Komer, W. Water Polo – 2008 (silver)
Adam Krikorian, W. Water Polo Coach* – 2012 (Gold), 2016 (Gold)
Kara Lang Romero, W. Soccer – 2008
Bob Larsen, M. Track & Field Coach - 2004
Christine Peng-Peng Lee, W. Gymnastics - 2012
Eric Lindroth, M. Water Polo – 1972 (Bronze), 1980
Lauren Loberg, Skiing/Snowboarding (Sports Psychologist) – 2014
Kevin Love, M. Basketball – 2012 (Gold)
Liz Masakayan, W. Indoor Volleyball/W. Beach Volleyball – 1988, 2008
Courtney Mathewson, W. Water Polo – 2012 (Gold), 2016 (Gold)
Julianne McNamara, W. Gymnastics – 1980, 1984 (Gold, Silver)
Stein Metzger, M. Beach Volleyball - 2004
Ann Meyers Drysdale, W. Basketball - 1976 (Silver)
Karen Moe Humphreys, W. Swimming – 1972 (Gold), 1976
Althea Moses, W. Track & Field – 1996
Maddie Musselman, W. Water Polo – 2016 (Gold)
Elyse (Hopfner-Hibbs) Null, W. Gymnastics – 2008
James Owens, M. Track & Field - 1976
Jan Palchikoff, W. Rowing – 1976, 1980
Doug Partie, M. Volleyball – 1988 (Gold), 1992 (Bronze)
Samantha Peszek, W. Gymnastics – 2008 (silver)
Mal Pugh, W. Soccer – 2016
Jeanne Reeves, W. Volleyball – 1984 (Silver), 1996
Aline Reis, W. Soccer - 2016
Kyla Ross, W. Gymnastics – 2012 (Gold)
Kelly Rulon, W. Water Polo – 2004 (Bronze), 2012 (Gold)
Larry Rundle, M. Volleyball – 1968
Steve Salmons, M. Volleyball – 1984 (Gold)
Josh Samuels, M. Water Polo – 2016
Gary Sanserino, Baseball – 1968
Nicholas Scarvelis, M. Track & Field – 2016
Tasha Schwikert, W. Gymnastics – 2000 (Bronze), 2004
Sally Scovel, W. Rowing – 2000
Bob Seaman, W. Track & Field (Team Manager) – 1984, 1988
Howard Shu, Badminton – 2016
James Slatton, M. Water Polo – 1972 (Bronze)
Sinjin Smith, M. Beach Volleyball – 1996
John Spargo, M. Water Polo – 1952
John Speraw, M. Volleyball Coach* – 2008 (Gold), 2012, 2016 (Bronze)
George Stanich, M. Track & Field – 1948 (Bronze)
Kent Steffes, M. Beach Volleyball – 1996 (Gold)
Jamie Subandhi, Badminton – 2016
Mike Terry, M. Track & Field – 1996
Kim Vandenberg, W. Swimming – 2008 (Bronze)
Sasha Victorine, M. Soccer – 2000
Chris Waller, M. Gymnastics – 1992, 2004 (coach)
Iris Wang, Badminton – 2016
Jerry Weinstein, Baseball (Asst. Coach) – 1992
Jordyn Wieber, W. Gymnastics – 2012 (Gold)
Natalie Williams, W. Basketball – 2000 (Gold)
Elaine Youngs, W. Indoor Volleyball/W. Beach Volleyball – 1996, 2004 (Bronze), 2008
Gigi Zosa Mar, W. Gymnastics - 1984
Bold indicates gold medalist; italics indicates silver or bronze medalist
*coaches do not receive Olympic medals
Olympian participation is either Friday, Saturday or both days