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Burnt Orange in Beijing

Ten former and current University of Texas student-athletes accounted for a total of 14 medals, including 10 gold, during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. If these athletes were competing as a separate country, Texas would have ranked eighth among all nations in number of gold medals earned and tied for 18th in number of total medals won. In its storied Olympics history, former and current University of Texas student-athletes have produced a total of 116 medals, including 67 gold, 31 silver and 18 bronze.

Former swimmer Aaron Peirsol paced the Longhorns’ contingency with three total medals. Peirsol claimed gold in both the 100-meter backstroke (world-record time of 52.54) and the 400-meter medley relay (world-record time of 3:29.34) and earned silver in the 200-meter backstroke. Texas-ex Garrett Weber-Gale won gold medals in the 400-meter freestyle relay (world-record time of 3:08.24) and the 400-meter medley relay (swam the freestyle leg in the prelims). Four other Texas swimmers earned gold medals in Beijing. UT junior Ricky Berens swam the third leg of Team USA’s gold medal-winning and world record-breaking 800-meter freestyle relay (6:58.56), while classmate Dave Walters earned a gold medal after swimming in the event’s preliminary round. Texas-ex Brendan Hansen swam the breaststroke leg on the 400-meter medley relay, while former Longhorn Ian Crocker claimed a gold medal after swimming in the event’s preliminary round.

Texas-ex Sanya Richards ran the anchor leg on Team USA’s gold medal-winning 1,600-meter relay and earned a bronze medal in the 400-meters. Former Longhorn Melaine Walker claimed a gold medal for Jamaica in the 400-meter hurdles (Olympic-record time of 52.67). Texas-ex pitching legend Cat Osterman earned a silver medal with the U.S. softball team, while former Longhorn catcher Taylor Teagarden helped the U.S. baseball squad to a bronze medal.

These totals do not include UT head women’s basketball coach Gail Goestenkors, who served as an assistant coach and helped Team USA to the gold medal in women’s basketball, or the one gold and three silver medals earned by Texas women’s swimming volunteer assistant coach Kirsty Coventry for Zimbabwe.

A total of 23 current or former University of Texas student-athletes and five current coaches represented seven countries during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. In addition to Goestenkors’ gold medal with Team USA’s women’s basketball squad, Eddie Reese paced the U.S. men’s swimming team to 16 total medals (nine gold, two silver, five bronze), while Bubba Thornton directed the U.S. men’s track and field squad to 14 medals (four gold, five silver, five bronze). Kim Brackin led the Zimbabwe swimming team to four medals (one gold, three silver).