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Cavaliers in the Olympics

The first Cavalier to medal at the Olympics was James Rector, who won silver in the 100-meter dash at the 1908 Games in London. Since 2000, six UVA athletes have medaled and many more have competed. In 2000, Ed Moses (Col ’04) won gold and silver in swimming. Angela Hucles (Col ’00) won gold in 2004 and 2008 in soccer. In 2004, Wyatt Allen (Col ’91) won a gold medal in rowing. In 2008, Melanie Kok (Col ’07) won a silver medal in rowing and Lindsay Shoop (Col ’03) won a gold. And who can forget watching Dawn Staley (Col ’92) carrying the American flag at the opening ceremonies of the 2004 Olympics in Athens? She won her third gold medal that year. This summer, 12 UVA students and alumni competed in the Games of the XXX Olympiad, and three brought home gold.

Katya Bachrouche (Col ’11)

  • Swimming for Lebanon
  • 800-meter freestyle

Bachrouche, a four-time All-ACC selection, won six medals—four gold, two bronze—at the 2011 Pan-Arab Games in Doha, Qatar.

Will Coleman (Col ’08)

  • Riding Jim Wildasin’s Twizzel for the U.S.
  • Equestrian—eventing

Coleman finished fifth at the 2012 Rolex Kentucky CCI4 and fourth at the Rolex/USEF National Championship in April 2012.

Shannon Brinkman/USEF Photo

Somdev Devvarman (Col ’08)

  • Playing tennis for India
  • Men’s singles

A recent shoulder injury has hurt Devvarman’s world ranking, which peaked at no. 62 in July 2011. He is currently ranked at 333, but he remains India’s best player.

Inge Janssen (Col ’11 L/M) (second from right, wearing sunglasses)

  • Rowing for the Netherlands
  • Women’s double sculls

Janssen was part of the varsity four boat that won the 2010 NCAA Championship and set a new NCAA record of 7:07:28 in its semifinal race.

David Karasek (Com ’11)

  • Swimming for Switzerland
  • 200-meter individual medley

Karasek ranks fourth in the 200-yard freestyle and fifth in the 100-yard freestyle on Virginia’s all-time top times list. He is also an ACC record-holder as a member of the 800-yard freestyle relay team.

Yannick Kaeser (Col ’16)

  • Swimming for Switzerland
  • 200-meter breaststroke

Kaeser broke the Switzerland national record in the men’s 200-meter breaststroke with a time of 2:12:00 at the 2012 Swiss Championships in March. He finished seventh in the event at the European Aquatic Championships in May 2012.

Lori Lindsey (Col ’03)

  • Playing midfield for the U.S.
  • Alternate, Women’s soccer

In 2010, Lindsey led Team USA in assists despite playing less than half of the minutes available that year. She currently plays soccer for the Western New York Flash.

Matt McLean (Col ’11)

  • Swimming for the U.S.
  • 4x200-meter freestyle relay

McLean is a UVA and ACC record-holder in three events: the 500-yard freestyle, 1000-yard freestyle and 1650-yard freestyle. He was twice named ACC Swimmer of the Year, in 2008 and 2011. He earned a gold medal in London.

Lauren Perdue (Col ’13)

  • Swimming for the U.S.
  • 4x200-meter freestyle relay

Perdue, a 12-time All-American and 17-time ACC champion, missed the NCAA Championships in March to undergo back surgery. “I did not think in a million years that I would be here right now,” she said after earning her Olympic bid. She earned a gold medal in London.

Becky Sauerbrunn (Col ’09)

  • Playing defense for the U.S.
  • Women’s soccer

Sauerbrunn is the only three-time NSCAA All-American in UVA history. She currently plays soccer for D.C. United Women. She earned a gold medal in London.

Paige Selenski (Col ’13)

  • Striking for the U.S.
  • Women’s field hockey

Selenski led Virginia in scoring for the third consecutive season with 27 goals in 2010. She redshirted the 2011 season to compete with Team USA in the Pan American Games.

Michelle Vittese (Col ’13)

  • Striking for the U.S.
  • Women’s field hockey

Vittese competed with the U.S. National Team in two European tours and in two separate Four Nations Tournaments in Argentina. She redshirted the 2011 season to compete with Team USA in the Pan American Games.