IU's Olympic heritage is continuing in terms of competing and coaching. In Beijing, five individuals with ties to IU represented the United States, while three represented Ukraine and one competed for Venezuela. Here is a brief recap of how each individual fared at the 2008 Olympic Games:

• Kayla Bashore played for a U.S. field hockey team that garnered great respect for a 1-2-3 showing in Beijing. In the team's win over New Zealand, Bashore had an assist and a goal. Her goal was assisted by current IU assistant coach Kelly Doton.

   

• David Neville represented the U.S. in track and field, winning two Olympic medals in Beijing. In the 400 meter dash, Neville dove across the finish line to edge out Christopher Brown of the Bahamas. His heroics completed a 1, 2, 3 sweep of the medals in the event for the U.S. In the 4x400 meter relay, the Americans, heavily favored, won the gold, breaking the Olympic record with Neville running the third leg. Neville's gold is the eighth by an IU track and field athlete and the fourth in the 4x400m relay, and his bronze is the first individual medal for an IU track and field athlete since Willie May won silver in 1960.

   

• Aarik Wilson earned his trip to Beijing by winning the U.S. Olympic Trials. When he arrived in Beijing, he was suffering from a stress fracture in his leg, yet he managed to record a leap of 52' 4 3/4.

   

• Christina Loukas represented the United State in the three-meter springboard diving competition, placing ninth with a score of 315.70. In addition, IU head diving coach Jeff Huber served as an assistant coach with the U.S. team.

   

• Kate Zubkova swan for her native Ukraine, finishing 19th in the 100 butterfly, 21st in the 100 backstroke and tied for 22nd in the 200 backstroke. She was joined at the Games by IU assistant swimming coach Mike Westphal who served as a member of the Ukrainian coaching staff.

   

• Indiana alum Sergiy Fesenko also competed for the Ukraine in Beijing, finishing 16th in the 400 freestyle and 23rd in the 1,500 freestyle.

   

• Bader Al-Muhana swam for Saudi Arabia at the 2008 Olympics.

   

Few universities, or even nations can match IU's overall Olympic record. A total of 171 IU athletes have competed in the Olympics, and these individuals have represented 15 nations. On 14 occasions Olympic coaches have come from IU.

In 2008, Jeff Huber became the first three-time Olympic coach in IU history as he has been a member of the U.S. Diving staff in 2000, 2004 and 2008. Two IU coaches have been honored by coaching twice in the Olympics: James "Doc" Counsilman for swimming in 1964 and 1976, Hobie Billingsley for diving in 1968 and 1972. Counsilman had a streak of nine straight Olympics -- from 1956 through 1988 -- with at least one medalist, a record believed to be unmatched in any sport in Olympic history.

Two coaches with ties to IU have won gold medals in team competition: former coach Bob Knight for basketball in 1984, and Tara VanDerveer for basketball in 1996.

For athletes, the IU medal count is 84 including 49 gold, 16 silver, and 21 bronze. Prior to the 2004 Olympics, at least one IU athlete medaled at every Summer Olympics since 1932. The most productive year was 1968 in Mexico City, with 17 medals for IU competitors.

At the 1972 Games in Munich, swimmer Mark Spitz collected seven gold medals. IU athletes received a total of 15 medals that year, including 11 gold.

Four years later in Montreal, IU also left it's mark with a Hoosier in the headlines almost every day. IU swimming great Gary Hall carried the U.S. flag at the opening ceremonies. Scott May was a scoring standout and Quinn Buckner, the captain for the gold medal-winning basketball team. The swimming star was IU's Jim Montgomery, with three gold medals. Hall and diver Cynthia Potter also won medals. IU's James "Doc" Counsilman was the head coach of the most successful U.S. swimming team ever, with 12 golds and 10 silvers in 13 events. Hoosier track coach Sam Bell coached the American distance runners.

 

Hoosier Olympic Notes

173 Olympians (including coaches, judges, and representation separately)
88 Men's Swimming and Diving
38 Men's Track and Field
18 Women's Swimming and Diving
8 Men's Basketball
7 Soccer
6 Wrestling
5 Men's Cycling
2 Women's Basketball
2 Women's Track and Field
1 Softball
2 Baseball
1 Volleyball
1 Fencing
1 Rifle
1 Men's Tennis
1 Field Hockey
1 Canoe
1 Sailing
1 Field Hockey

Total IU Medals
49 Gold Medals
16 Silver Medals
21 Bronze Medals

14 - The number of nations in addition to the United States for which a former Hoosier has competed:
Australia
Austria
Brazil
Canada
Denmark
France
Germany
Greece
Honduras
Hong Kong
Ireland
Jamaica
Mexico
Nigeria
Saudi Arabia
Spain
Ukraine
Venezuela