Erik Vendt and Klete Keller Ensure Trojans Gold Medal Streak Continues
In a little less than a week into the 2008 Beijing games, former Trojan swimming greats Erik Vendt and Klete Keller, clinched gold medals when the Americans took first in the 4x200m freestyle relay. A Trojan has won a gold medal in every summer Olympics since 1912.
Vendt and Keller swam the final two legs of the Americans' preliminary relay Tuesday night in Beijing, helping to set an Olympic record of 7:04.66. Although both only swam in the prelims, by virtue of the U.S. win in the final, both former Trojans earned the same medals as the swimmers in the final.
It is Vendt's first Olympic gold medal after winning the silver medal in the 400m IM in both the 2000 and 2004 Olympics. It is Keller's second Olympic gold and fifth medal overall (he also has one silver and two bronze). He previously won gold as the anchor leg during the final of 4x200m free relay in 2004 when he held off Australian great Ian Thorpe at the wall.
USC's medal haul likely will increase in the coming days. Troy is represented by 41 past, present and future athletes competing in nine sports in the 2008 Beijing Games.
(Information from Trojan Athletics)
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