Like the world records in swimming, which continue to be broken with alarming frequency, Cal’s Olympians continue to improve on their showing at each summer Games. Since winning seven medals in Barcelona in 1992, Cal has equaled or improved its overall medal count every four years. The Bears’ 17 overall medals tie for the most they’ve ever won, and their 11 golds are the most since the 1948 Games — also held in London — where a dozen of their 13 medals were golds.

But when it comes to Olympic medals, it’s not just how many — it’s how much they mean.

“I almost started crying in the water,” said former Cal swimmer Nathan Adrian after edging out Australia’s James Magnussen in the 100 free by a hundredth of a second on Aug. 1. “I kind of realized that it’s once every four years. And it’s not who’s put up the fastest time of the year or who’s built the fastest time in the world the last four years but who can get their hand on the wall first today — tonight.”

Adrian won three medals and two golds in London, a marked improvement from his lone relay gold in Beijing where he didn’t race in the final. Adrian’s fingertip victory over Magnussen thrust the locally famous swimmer into the national conversation, where he’s become the most recognizable men’s swimmer not named Lochte or Phelps. After a Cal career where he led the Bears to an NCAA team championship in 2011 — its first in 31 years — Adrian won his first post-Cal medal at the 2011 World Aquatics Championships — a preview of things to come.

But Adrian was hardly the only former Cal athlete with a shining moment in London.

With a stunning header in last Monday’s semifinal against Canada, Alex Morgan secured her spot in soccer lore, rising over the Canadian defense in the 123rd minute to bang the ball into the back of the net, giving Team USA a heart-stopping 4-3 victory as time expired. Already one of the most recognizable faces in women’s soccer, the 23-year-old cinched her place atop the sport with her header, earning her worldwide admiration and a place in soccer history.

“I’m still in shock,” said Morgan immediately after the match. “I just got my head on it at the end. I didn’t even see it go in.”

Three days later, Morgan won her first gold medal in a thrilling 2-1 win over Japan, logging an assist on the game’s first goal.

But the most impressive performance might have been the U.S. women’s swim team. With Cal coach Teri McKeever at the helm, Cal’s women’s swimmers picked up eight medals — five gold — more than in any other sport. 24-year-old Dana Vollmer picked up three of those golds, including an individual win in the 100 fly. But it was relays that accounted for six of the eight medals, including Vollmer, Rachel Bootsma and Jessica Hardy in the 400 medley relay.

“It’s amazing that confidence we have in each other,” said Vollmer after winning the 800 free relay. “The adrenalin rush was just amazing.”

For all of Cal’s triumphs at the Games, the Olympics weren’t devoid of moments of disappointment. Milorad Cavic, who lost to Michael Phelps in the 100 fly by a hundredth of a second four years ago, finished fourth in London. Track star Alysia Montano aspired for a podium finish in the 800, but she finished fifth. Of Cal’s 21 non-American Olympians, water polo bronze medalist Aleksa Saponjic was the only one to medal.

But in light of Cal’s gold medal moments, it’s hard to complain about 17 medals.

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Silver medals (1)
Nathan Adrian (USA) — Men’s swimming — 400 free relay

Bronze medals (5)
Natalie Coughlin — Women’s swimming — 400 free relay (swam in heats)
Jessica Hardy — Women’s swimming — 400 free relay
Kara Kohler — Women’s rowing — Quad sculls
Caitlin Leverenz — Women’s swimming — 200 IM
Aleksa Saponjic — Men’s water polo

Total number of Cal medals: 17
Total number of Cal medalists: 12

The post Full list of Cal Olympic medalists appeared first on The Daily Californian.

It was then that Alex Morgan secured her place in soccer lore.

With less than a minute remaining in the final overtime, the former Cal standout took a cross from Heather O’Reilly and headed it into the back of the net just over the head of Canada goalkeeper Erin McLeod, sealing the squad’s 4-3 win and its fifth consecutive spot in the Olympic gold medal match.

Team USA has won all but one gold medal since women’s soccer was introduced as an Olympic sport in 1996, taking the silver in 2000. But the final will be a rematch of last year’s World Cup final against Japan, which they lost in penalty kicks.

Morgan and the Americans will take on Japan on Thursday at 11:45 a.m. Pacific.

With the win, Morgan is assured of a medal, which means Cal Olympians will have at least 14, more than any other year except 2008 and 2004. The Bears have at least five other legitimate chances to medal, with four water polo players and runner Alysia Montano left to compete in their respective events.

The Bears won a school-record 17 medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The post Morgan scores winning goal in 4-3 U.S. victory appeared first on The Daily Californian.

Brazil

Henrique Barbosa — M. Swimming
Barbosa is one of the few Cal men’s swimming products headed to the Olympics who wasn’t coached by David Durden. Barbosa swam under Nort Thornton from 2003 to 2006 before Durden was handed the reins in 2007. Thornton, who continues to serve as the head coach emeritus, has a reputation for producing strong breastrokers, and Barbosa is no exception, as he will compete in the 200 breast in London.
— Christina Jones

Canada

Will Dean — M. Rowing
After finishing third in the varsity eight as a sophomore and a junior, Dean finally won a national title as a senior, finishing his Cal career in 2010. The 25-year-old from Kelowna, B.C. is competing in his first Olympics in the men’s four in London, one of two Canadian rowers from Cal. If he shows the same improvement he showed at Cal, you could see him in Rio in 2016 too.
— Chris Yoder

Scott Frandsen — M. Rowing
A Canadian of Swedish and Danish descent, Frandsen is the only returning Calympian men’s rower to have medaled in 2008. After taking the silver in the men’s pair with Dave Calder in Beijing, Frandsen will again team up with Calder with hopes of nabbing a gold this year. A member of Cal’s crew team from 1999-2002, Frandsen rowed on Cal’s varsity eight to two national championships. He’s also helped the Canadian eight to a gold medal in 2001 at the Nation’s Cup.
— Chris Yoder

China

Max Zhang — M. Basketball
At 7-foot-3, Zhang was the tallest basketball player in Cal history, but his height could only take him so far at Cal. In two years with the Bears, Zhang played in 42 games, averaging a mere 2.5 points and 1.7 rebounds a game. Having left Cal early to join the Chinese Basketball Association, Zhang will try to help China improve on its eighth-place finish in Beijing.
— Chris Yoder

Croatia

Martin Maric — M. Swimming
Maric transferred to Cal from the University of Georgia for track and field and brought a new dimension to the squad. He became an All American his first year, placing eighth at the NCAA Championships. The Croatian discus thrower will be competing in his second Olympics, but will look to try and attain his first medal.
— Karan Karia

Denmark

Mathias Gydesen — M. Swimming
Gydesen had to wait a little longer to book his flight to London. The Danish swimmer posted the best prelim time in the 100-meter backstroke, but was one-hundredth of a second shy of the FINA qualifying time. Three months later, Gydesen received an invitation to the Olympics, where he will compete in the 100 back.
— Christina Jones

Estonia

Martin Liivamagi — M. Swimming
This is not Liivamagi’s first rodeo. The Estonian swam for his country in Beijing, finishing 34th in the 200 IM. A year later, Liivamagi showed great improvement on the world stage, taking 16th in the 200 IM in the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome. Liivamagi will enter the 100 breast and 200 IM in London with his Cal assistant coach Greg Meehan at his side, as Meehan will serve as an assistant to the Estonian team.
— Christina Jones

Hong Kong

Stephanie Au — W. Swimming
In 2008, Au became the youngest member of the Hong Kong Olympic team at 16, setting Hong Kong long-course records in the 200 free, 400 free and 800 free. At the 2011 NCAA Championships, Au posted the fourth-fastest time in Cal history in her favorite event — the 200 back. Au will compete in the 100 and 200 back in London, showcasing her innate talent in the events.
— Janice Chua

Hannah Wilson — W. Swimming
The only Caucasian in the Hong Kong Olympic contingent, Wilson has been one of the most famous athletes in Hong Kong since competing in the 2004 Games as a 15-year-old. Now in her third Olympics, Wilson has a shot at a medal in London, where she will compete in the 100 free and 100 fly. She’s already one of the greatest swimmers Hong Kong has ever seen.
— Chris Yoder

Iceland

Kari Karlsson — M. Marathon
Karlsson was a key member of Cal’s track and cross country teams, competing in virtually any distance long enough to make your average couch potato grimace. The Reykjavik native will be taking on the marathon, his Twitter feed tracking his training — casual half marathon workouts in less than 70 minutes: “#littletoofast.” He’ll go against Cardinal alum Ryan Hall in the race.
— Alex Matthews

Iran

Amin Nikfar — M. Shot Put
Cal’s Olympians hail from every continent except Antarctica, but Nikfar is the only Calympian to have hailed from Iran. Nikfar competed in the shot put in Beijing four years ago, but failed to advance to the finals. For a man who never finished higher than 21st at NCAAs while at Cal, even making it to the finals this year would be a tremendous accomplishment.
— Chris Yoder

Netherlands

Olivier Siegelaar — M. Rowing
Siegelaar will be competing once again for the Netherlands this summer after having placed fourth in Beijing with the Dutch eight, finishing right behind the third place U.S. eight coached by Cal’s Mike Teti. Having rowed on Cal’s national champion-winning varsity 8+ his junior year at the IRA Regatta, the Dutch rower will be making a reappearance at the Olympics, this time hoping to top his former coach’s boat.
— Lynn Yu

New Zealand

Lauren Boyle — W. Swimming
Boyle qualified for three Olympic freestyle events as well as the 800 free relay, making her Cal’s busiest swimmer. The New Zealand Swimmer of the Year has flourished over the past year, garnering semi-finalist and finalist times at the 2011 FINA World Championships. A genuine world-class talent, Boyle is primed to add to her medal haul in London.
— Janice Chua

Betsy Hassett — W. Soccer
Hassett and Alex Morgan played together for Cal in 2009 and 2010, but the pair never faced off in the 2011 Women’s World Cup, and likely won’t in London. But you’ll still want to tune in to see Hassett, a dynamic midfielder who could make a big difference in determining just how far her squad will go. With two years of eligibility left, you’ll be seeing a lot of Hassett at Edwards Stadium too.
— Chris Yoder

Poland

Marcin Tarczynski — M. Swimming
In March, Tarczynski broke through on the national stage, winning the NCAA title in the 200 IM and shattering the school record in the process. At 21 years old, Tarczynski is a long shot to make it to the podium this year, but the Polish record holder in the 100 back has yet to reach his potential, and he could be a mainstay in the Olympics for years to come in the event.
— Chris Yoder

Serbia

Milorad Cavic — M. Swimming
If you look at the video, you’d think Cavic should have a gold medal. Four years ago, in the finals of the 100 fly in Beijing, Cavic and Michael Phelps appeared to touch the end wall at the same time, but Phelps pulled out a shocking comeback to win by one hundredth of a second. You could very well see a rematch in London, as Cavic swims the 100 fly, the 50 free and the 100 fly.
— Chris Yoder

Aleksa Saponjic — M. Water Polo
Just 20 years of age, Saponjic is the youngest member of the Serbian national team. The Belgrade native dominated in his first year at Cal, racking up the third-most goals on the team (30), and he looks poised to take over as the team’s de facto standout since the departure of Ivan Rackov. But that will have to come after he competes for Team Serbia, the most elite squad in the world.
— Annie Gerlach

Slovenia

Damir Dugonjic — M. Swimming
At 6-foot-7, Dugonjic may look more like a basketball player than a swimmer. But make no mistake, he’s a natural breaststroker. Dugonjic’s long frame and efficient strokes make him a beast in the pool. A year removed from graduation, Dugonjic is set to race in his second Olympics for his native Slovenia, where he’ll look to improve from his 16th-place finish in the 100 breast in Beijing.
— Christina Jones

Sara Isakovic — W. Swimming
Isakovic was the first Slovenian swimmer in history to win an Olympic medal. Already in her third Olympic Games at the age of 24, Isakovic has seen success at both the college and international levels, helping Cal take three of the past four national championships. The freestyler will look to add to her collection of hardware in the 200 free and 100 fly in London.
— Karan Karia

South Africa

Graeme Moore — M. Swimming
Though they were great friends and swam on relays together, Moore undoubtedly lived in Nathan Adrian’s shadow at Cal. The two former teammates will get a chance to compete against each other in London, this time wearing different caps. The South African is set to swim the 100 free and the 400 free relay, the same events in which Adrian will be a favorite.
— Christina Jones

Switzerland

Dominik Meichtry — M. Swimming
Meichtry is far from a one-trick pony. The Swiss swimmer is slated to compete in four events in London: the 100, 200 and 400 freestyles and the 100 fly. This marks Meichtry’s third trip to the Olympics, but his first since graduating from Cal. He holds six Swiss national records, and looks to further etch his name into the history books.
—Christina Jones

USA

Nathan Adrian — M. Swimming
Michael Phelps may still be the face of American swimming, but we’ll still be seeing a lot of national up-and-comer Adrian. The Bremerton, Wash., native will also participate in the 100 free and 400 medley relay, and just missed a shot at the 50 free. The 6-foot-6 sprinter took home a gold in Beijing for swimming the prelims of the 400 free relay that the Americans eventually won. This time around, one of Cal’s most prolific swimmers will be looking to earn some hardware in his own right.
— Christina Jones

Rachel Bootsma — W. Swimming
The only Calympian who’s yet to compete for Cal, Bootsma’s success bodes well for the future of Cal swimming. The 18-year-old incoming freshman beat out former Bear Natalie Coughlin in the 100 back at Olympic Trials, the two-time defending gold medalist in the event. With Coughlin out of the water this time around, Bootsma has a very real shot of nabbing her first Olympic medal.
— Chris Yoder

Erin Cafaro — W. Rowing
A five-time member of the U.S. National Team, Cafaro and her teammates brought home the gold in the 2008 women’s eight for the first time in U.S. Olympic history. Although she had gold medal success in the women’s pair during the 2009 World Rowing Championships, Cafaro turned down her seat for the pairs this year to pursue a return to the women’s eight in London, where she will vie for her second straight gold.
— Janice Chua

Natalie Coughlin — W. Swimming
One of the most decorated American female Olympians ever, Coughlin dominated the pool in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, competing and medaling in 11 total events and becoming the first-ever back-to-back women’s gold medalist in the 100 back. But the U.S. swim team’s co-captain only qualified for the 400 free relay in London in what could be her final Olympics. If she medals in the event, she’ll tie Matt Biondi for the most Olympic medals of any Cal athlete at 12.
— Alice Contopoulos

Anthony Ervin — M. Swimming
Ervin seemed destined for greatness as a 19-year-old at the 2000 Olympic Games. He had won a gold medal in the 50 free and a silver as part of the 4×100 relay. Three years later though, he unexpectedly stopped training and sold his gold medal to support tsunami victims. Last year, Ervin got back into the action and began training for this year’s games, where he will be competing in the 50 free.
— Karan Karia

Jessica Hardy — W. Swimming
In 2008, a positive drug test knocked Hardy off the U.S. Olympic team, despite her having set world records in two breaststroke events. When she regained eligibility, Hardy missed qualifying for the 100 breast by a mere half-second. Hardy has developed into one of the best U.S. sprint freestylers, even taking first at the 2012 Olympic swimming trials in the 100 free.
— Janice Chua

Elliot Hovey — M. Rowing
Hovey originally wanted to row for Brown, following in the Ivy League footsteps of his grandfather, who rowed in college before going on to become an Assistant Secretary of State from 1969-72. Instead he landed at Cal, where he rowed from 2003-06. The 29-year-old will take another crack in quad sculls this year, four years after winning the C Final in 2008 in Beijing.
— Chris Yoder

Kara Kohler — W. Rowing
Of the eight rowers Cal is sending to the Olympics, Kohler is the youngest. The 21-year-old didn’t even consider rowing until coming to Cal, but her commitment to the sport has earned her a spot on the American quad sculls team. Just two years after taking up the sport, Kohler will try to help the American boat to a medal four years after it finished fifth in Beijing.
— Chris Yoder

Caitlin Leverenz — W. Swimming
At the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials, Leverenz missed out on a chance at her dream by less than one second. Since then, she has been the top swimmer at Cal, named Swimmer of the Year this year. Leverenz will look to compete against and beat Natalie Coughlin this year in the 200 IM and 400 IM.
— Karan Karia

John Mann — M. Water Polo
The drought is over for the Cal men’s water polo team. The last time any former Bears had competed in the Olympics was in 2000. This year, however, standout alum John Mann will represent the United States in London. Mann was an alternate in Beijing in 2008. This time around, however, he’s bound to prove his prowess at the lethal center position.
— Annie Gerlach

Alysia Montano — W. Track
You can tell Montano apart from everyone else by the flower she wears in her hair when she competes. But it’s her running that distinguishes her from other athletes the most. Montano won the 800 at this year’s competition and heads to London as a favorite to win the event.
— Chris Yoder

Alex Morgan — W. Soccer
Since Morgan finished her career as a Cal soccer player in 2010, the Bears’ third highest all time scorer has been rapidly approaching the kind of name recognition Mia Hamm had after the 1999 World Cup. But the name that best describes her is the one she earned at the start of her career: “clutch.” From the winning goal of the 2008 U-20 Women’s World Cup final to the first goal of the 2011 World Cup final, when the pressure is high, Morgan thrives.
— Alex Matthews

Julie Nichols — W. Rowing
Nichols doesn’t just have brawn, she’s got the brains to go along with it as well. Currently pursuing her PhD in mechanical engineering at UCLA, the former Bear is an international superstar in the lightweight double sculls, having won the 2011 Overall Rowing World Cup in the event.
— Lynn Yu

Heather Petri — W. Water Polo
Petri, the oldest and most decorated member of USA women’s water polo, has already won three Olympic medals. While at Cal, she was a three-time All-American, and the attacker has won two silver medals and a bronze, but has never captured that elusive gold medal. Will this be the year?
— Austin Crochetiere

Dana Vollmer — W. Swimming
Since qualifying for Olympic Trials as a 12-year-old, Vollmer has undergone open heart surgery, won an Olympic gold, injured various body parts and choked with chances to advance to the Beijing Olympics on the line. This year the 24-year-old is back on the sport’s biggest stage, with two chances to earn her way back to the podium in the 100 fly and 800 free relay.
— Chris Yoder

Zach Vlahos — M. Rowing
Vlahos, current assistant coach to Cal Men’s Rowing, coxed the varsity 8+ to a national champion his senior year. He will be filling the seat of the coxswain on the U.S. eight in London this summer. Vlahos better lose his voice screaming his head off, because the U.S. hopes to nab gold this year after a disappointing bronze in 2008.
— Lynn Yu

Elsie Windes — W. Water Polo
Windes, a member of the USA women’s water polo team, is heading to London in search of her second medal after earning a silver medal in Beijing in 2008. She is a defender from Portland, Ore., one of two members on team USA not from California. While at Cal, she was a three-time All-American and scored a total of 147 goals, including a 51 goal season in 2005. In recent international play, Windes scored four goals at the 2011 Pan American games to help Team USA win gold and earn a berth to the Olympics.
— Austin Crochetiere

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All times listed are Pacific. The times listed are the times of live competition, not the times events will be broadcast on tape delay. All events are streamed online here.

Saturday, July 28

Get started by watching Natalie Coughlin’s only race of the Olympics, as the 400 free relay was the only event for which she qualified this year. It could be the final race of her illustrious swimming career.

Women’s Soccer
Betsy Hassett — New Zealand vs. Brazil — 6:30 a.m.
Alex Morgan — USA vs. Columbia — 9 a.m.

Swimming
Sara Isakovic, Dana Vollmer, Hannah Wilson — Women’s 100 fly heats — 2:34 a.m.
Dominik Meichtry — Men’s 400 free heats — 2:52 a.m.
Caitlin Leverenz — Women’s 400 IM qualification — 3:17 a.m.
Damir Dugonjic, Martin Liivamagi — Men’s 100 breast heats — 3:53 a.m.
Natalie Coughlin, Jessica Hardy — Women’s 400 free relay qualification — 4:11 a.m.

Sara Isakovic, Dana Vollmer, Hannah Wilson — Women’s 100 fly semis — 11:40 a.m.*
Dominik Meichtry — Men’s 400 free FINAL — 11:51 a.m.*
Caitlin Leverenz — Women’s 400 IM FINAL — 12:11 p.m.*
Damir Dugonjic, Martin Liivamagi — Men’s 100 breast semis — 12:32 p.m.*
Natalie Coughlin, Jessica Hardy — Women’s 400 free FINAL — 12:43 p.m.*

Rowing
Kara Kohler — Women’s quad sculls heats — 1:50 a.m.
Olivier Siegelaar, Mike Teti (coach), Zach Vlahos — Men’s eight heats — 2:10 a.m.
Elliot Hovey — Men’s quad sculls heats — 3:30 a.m.
Scott Frandsen — Men’s pair heats — 4 a.m.

Sunday, July 29

Lots of swimming in the first eight days of the Olympics. The 400 free relay, featuring American Nathan Adrian and South African Graeme Moore, should be one of the most entertaining swims of the Games.

Swimming
Stephanie Au, Rachel Bootsma — Women’s 100 back heats — 2 a.m.
Dominik Meichtry — Men’s 200 free heats — 2:20 a.m.
Mathias Gydesen, Marcin Tarczynski — Men’s 100 back heats — 3:03 a.m.
Nathan Adrian, Graeme Moore — Men’s 400 free relay qualification — 3:56 a.m.

Sara Isakovic, Dana Vollmer, Hannah Wilson — Women’s 100 fly FINAL — 11:30 a.m.*
Dominik Meichtry — Men’s 200 free semis — 11:37 a.m.*
Damir Dugonjic, Martin Liivamagi — Men’s 100 breast FINAL — 12:11 p.m.*
Mathias Gydesen, Marcin Tarczynski — Men’s 100 back semis — 12:28 p.m.*
Stephanie Au, Rachel Bootsma — Women’s 100 back semis — 12:49 p.m.*
Nathan Adrian, Graeme Moore — Men’s 400 free relay FINAL — 1 p.m.*

Men’s Water Polo
Aleksa Saponjic — Serbia vs. Hungary — 7:30 a.m.
John Mann — USA vs. Montenegro — 11:40 a.m.

Men’s Basketball
Max Zhang — China vs. Spain — 8:45 a.m.

Rowing
Julie Nichols, Dave O’Neill (coach) — Women’s lightweight double sculls heats — 2:40 a.m.
Erin Cafaro — Women’s eight heats — 3:50 a.m.

Monday, July 30

A good day for fans of the backstroke, as Mathias Gydesen, Marcin Tarczynski, Stephanie Au and Rachel Bootsma all go in the 100 back. You might also see Dominik Meichtry in the final of the men’s 200 free.

Swimming
Lauren Boyle, Sara Isakovic — Women’s 200 free heats — 2 a.m.
Caitlin Leverenz — Women’s 200 IM qualification — 2:41 a.m.

Lauren Boyle, Sara Isakovic — Women’s 200 free semis — 11:30 a.m.*
Dominik Meichtry — Men’s 200 free FINAL — 11:43 a.m.*
Stephanie Au, Rachel Bootsma — Women’s 100 back FINAL — 11:51 a.m.*
Mathias Gydesen, Marcin Tarczynski — Men’s 100 back FINAL — 11:58 a.m.*
Caitlin Leverenz — Women’s 200 IM semis — 12:55 p.m.*

Women’s Water Polo
Heather Petri, Elsie Windes — USA vs. Hungary — 11:40 a.m.

Rowing
Kara Kohler — Women’s quad sculls repechage — 1:40 a.m.
Olivier Siegelaar, Mike Teti (coach), Zach Vlahos — Men’s eight repechage — 1:50 a.m.
Elliot Hovey — Men’s quad sculls repechage — 2 a.m.
Scott Frandsen — Men’s pair repechage — 2:10 a.m.
Will Dean — Men’s four heats — 2:40 a.m.

Tuesday, July 31

Calympians compete in five sports, including Alex Morgan in soccer, Max Zhang in basketball and Caitlin Leverenz in the 200 IM. Sara Isakovic will try to best her silver medal from 2008 in the 200 free.

Women’s Soccer
Alex Morgan — USA vs. North Korea — 9:15 a.m.
Betsy Hassett — New Zealand vs. Cameroon — 11:45 a.m.

Swimming
Nathan Adrian, Dominik Meichtry, Graeme Moore — Men’s 100 free heats — 2 a.m.
Henrique Barbosa — Men’s 200 breast heats — 2:40 a.m.

Nathan Adrian, Dominik Meichtry, Graeme Moore — Men’s 100 free semis — 11:30 a.m.*
Lauren Boyle, Sara Isakovic — Women’s 200 free FINAL — 11:41 a.m.*
Henrique Barbosa — Men’s 200 breast semis — 12:20 p.m.*
Caitlin Leverenz — Women’s 200 IM FINAL — 12:43 p.m.*

Men’s Water Polo
Aleksa Saponjic — Serbia vs. Great Britain — 10:20 a.m.
John Mann — USA vs. Romania — 11:40 a.m.

Men’s Basketball
Max Zhang — China vs. Russia — 1 a.m.

Rowing
Will Dean — Men’s four repechage — 2 a.m.
Julie Nichols, Dave O’Neill (coach) — Women’s lightweight double sculls repechage — 2:10 a.m.
Erin Cafaro — Women’s eight repechage — 2:50 a.m.

Wednesday, August 1

The first of three days of finals for rowing, Cal is likely to be well represented. Olivier Siegelaar and Zach Vlahos are slated to advance to the finals in the men’s eight, while Kara Kohler goes in quad sculls.

Swimming
Jessica Hardy, Hannah Wilson — Women’s 100 free heats — 2 a.m.
Martin Liivamagi — Men’s 200 IM qualification — 3:06 a.m.
Lauren Boyle, Dana Vollmer — Women’s 800 free relay qualification — 3:26 a.m.

Henrique Barbosa — Men’s 200 breast FINAL — 11:30 a.m.*
Jessica Hardy, Hannah Wilson — Women’s 100 free semis — 11:38 a.m.*
Nathan Adrian, Dominik Meichtry, Graeme Moore — Men’s 100 free FINAL — 12:20 p.m.*
Martin Liivamagi — Men’s 200 IM semis — 12:41 p.m.*
Lauren Boyle, Dana Vollmer — Women’s 800 free relay FINAL — 1:04 p.m.

Rowing
Kara Kohler — Women’s quad sculls FINAL — 2:20 a.m.*
Olivier Siegelaar, Mike Teti (coach), Zach Vlahos — Men’s eight FINAL — 2:30 a.m.*
Elliot Hovey — Men’s quad sculls semis — 2:40 a.m.*
Scott Frandsen — Men’s pair semis — 3:00 a.m.*

Women’s Water Polo
Heather Petri, Elsie Windes — USA vs. Spain — 10:20 a.m.

Thursday, August 2

Jessica Hardy will be a gold-medal candidate in the 100 free, and Estonian Martin Liivamagi could make the finals of the 200 IM. See if rower Erin Cafaro matches her gold-medal performance from 2008.

Swimming
Milorad Cavic, Anthony Ervin — Men’s 50 free heats — 2 a.m.
Lauren Boyle — Women’s 800 free heats — 2:19 a.m.
Milorad Cavic, Dominik Meichtry — Men’s 100 fly heats — 3:14 a.m.
Stephanie Au — Women’s 200 back heats — 3:31 a.m.

Milorad Cavic, Anthony Ervin — Men’s 50 free semis — 11:30 a.m.*
Stephanie Au — Wonen’s 200 back semis — 11:56 a.m.*
Martin Liivamagi — Men’s 200 IM FINAL — 12:19 p.m.*
Jessica Hardy, Hannah Wilson — 100 free FINAL — 12:37 p.m.*
Milorad Cavic, Dominik Meichtry — Men’s 100 fly semis — 12:54 p.m.*

Rowing
Will Dean — Men’s four semis — 2:10 a.m.*
Julie Nichols, Dave O’Neill (coach) — Women’s lightweight double sculls semis — 2:30 a.m.*
Erin Cafaro — Women’s eight FINAL — 4:30 a.m.*

Men’s Water Polo
Aleksa Saponjic — Serbia vs. Montenegro — 6:10 a.m.
John Mann — USA vs. Great Britain — 10:20 a.m.

Men’s Basketball
Max Zhang — China vs. New Zealand — 3:15 a.m.

Friday, August 3

A busy day, as Calympians compete in five sports. The 100 fly could feature a rematch of the sensational finish between Michael Phelps and Milorad Cavic from four years ago, and Anthony Ervin will go for another gold in the 50 free.

Swimming
Jessica Hardy — Women’s 50 free heats — 2 a.m.

Stephanie Au — 200 back FINAL — 11:30 a.m.*
Milorad Cavic, Dominik Meichtry — 100 fly FINAL — 11:38 a.m.*
Lauren Boyle — Women’s 800 free FINAL — 11:45 a.m.*
Milorad Cavic, Anthony Ervin — 50 free FINAL — 12:09 p.m.*
Jessica Hardy — Women’s 50 free semis — 12:25 p.m.*

Women’s Soccer
Alex Morgan, Betsy Hassett — Quarterfinals TBA*

Women’s Water Polo
Heather Petri, Elsie Windes — USA vs. China — 11:40 a.m.

Rowing
Elliot Hovey — Men’s quad sculls FINAL — 2:10 a.m.*
Scott Frandsen — Men’s pair FINAL — 2:20 a.m.*

Track & Field
Amin Nikfar — Men’s shot put qualification — 2 a.m.
Amin Nikfar — Men’s shot put FINAL — 2:30 a.m.

Saturday, August 4

Hardy will again be a favorite in the 50 free in the final day of short-course swimming at the Games. Will Dean will row for Canada in the men’s four, and Julie Nichols goes in the lightweight double sculls. Cal athletes compete in four sports.

Swimming
Jessica Hardy — Women’s 50 free FINAL — 11:30 a.m.*
Nathan Adrian — Men’s 400 medley relay FINAL — 12:27 p.m.

Rowing
Julie Nichols, Dave O’Neill (coach) — Women’s lightweight double sculls FINAL — 2 a.m.*
Will Dean — Men’s four FINAL — 2:30 a.m.*

Men’s Water Polo
Aleksa Saponjic, John Mann — Serbia vs. USA — 11:40 a.m.

Men’s Basketball
Max Zhang — China vs. Brazil — 8:45 a.m.

Sunday, August 5

Former Cal water polo stars Elsie Windes and Heather Petri are the only Calympians competing. It would be a good day to diversify your viewing, with finals in tennis, badminton, fencing and gymnastics, among others.

Women’s Water Polo
Heather Petri, Elsie Windes — Quarterfinals TBA*

Monday, August 6

Alex Morgan will probably be in the women’s soccer semifinal. New Zealander Betsy Hassett probably won’t. Water polo players John Mann and Aleksa Saponjic will be in action, as will discus thrower Martin Maric.

Women’s Soccer
Alex Morgan, Betsy Hassett — Semifinals TBA°

Men’s Water Polo
Aleksa Saponjic — Serbia vs. Romania — 6:10 a.m.
John Mann — USA vs. Hungary — 7:30 a.m.

Track & Field
Martin Maric — Discus qualification — 2 a.m.

Men’s Basketball
Max Zhang — China vs. Great Britain — 8:45 a.m.

Tuesday, August 7

Maric finished 29th in the discus in Beijing, so it would be unwise to expect him to advance to the final. Besides Petri and Windes in women’s water polo, no one else from Cal is in action. Watch the triathalon for fun.

Women’s Water Polo
Heather Petri, Elsie Windes — Semifinals TBA°

Track & Field
Martin Maric — Discus FINAL — 11:45 a.m.*

Wednesday, August 8

Could be your last chance to see Max Zhang and China in the men’s basketball quarters — if they even make it that far. China finished eighth in Beijing. You’ll likely see Mann and Saponjic again in the quarters.

Men’s Water Polo
Aleksa Saponjic, John Mann — Quarterfinals TBA*

Men’s Basketball
Max Zhang — Quarterfinals TBA*

Thursday, August 9

The women’s soccer gold medal match will be one of the biggest events of the Games, and there’s a good chance Alex Morgan will be in it. It’ll also be your last chance to see Petri and Windes.

Women’s Soccer
Alex Morgan, Betsy Hassett — FINAL TBA*

Track & Field
Alysia Montano — 800 meters semis — 11:30 a.m.

Women’s Water Polo
Heather Petri, Elsie Windes — FINAL TBA*

Friday, August 10

Not a whole lot going on besides the men’s basketball semifinals, as Mann and Saponjic are the only Cal athletes you’re likely to see. There’s always the synchronized swimming team routine final.

Men’s Water Polo
Aleksa Saponjic, John Mann — Semifinals TBA*

Men’s Basketball
Max Zhang — Semifinals TBA*

Saturday, August 11

Eight finals in track and field, including the women’s 800 meter final. There’s a good chance you’ll be seeing Alysia Montano running for her first gold medal, and you should watch it live.

Track & Field
Alysia Montano — 800 meters FINAL — 12 p.m.*

Sunday, August 12

You could see Mann or Saponjic in water polo, as the top eight men’s teams will be in action. Tune into the gold medal game if you find basketball boring. Icelander Kari Karlsson goes in the marathon.

Men’s Water Polo
Aleksa Saponjic, John Mann — FINAL TBA*

Men’s Track & Field
Kari Karlsson — Men’s Marathon — 3 a.m.

Men’s Basketball
Max Zhang — FINAL TBA*

*-Participation in the listed event is contingent on the participant having advanced from a previous round.

The post Who to watch: A schedule of Calympic events appeared first on The Daily Californian.

Not many people can say they’ve been to the Olympics five times. Korholz is one of them. The 1993 Cal alum has taken part in every Summer Olympics since graduation, starting with Sydney in 1996. But it took until 2004 in Athens for Korholz to nab her first Olympic medal, a silver as a member of the women’s eight. Now the La Jolla, Calif. native has turned her focus to coaching, and she will be an assistant coach for the U.S. women’s crew team for the second time.

Korholz helped coach the women’s eight to a gold medal in Beijing, a squad which included Cal’s Erin Cafaro, who will be competing in the same event this year. The American women won two medals, one of seven countries to win multiple medals in women’s rowing. As Korholz preserves Cal’s tradition of Olympic success, it will be interesting to see how many medals her squad can rack up.

Teri McKeever: Women’s swimming head coach (USA)

When it comes to coaching swimmers, it’s hard to find anyone better than Teri McKeever. The 20th-year head coach for the Cal women’s swim team has taken the Bears to the top of the mountain three times in the last four years, as her squads have won NCAA team titles three of the last four years. Now she’s taking her talents to the U.S. women’s swim team, where she will be the first female head coach in team history.

McKeever has transformed Cal into the No. 1 destination for college swimming in the country as she’s tutored some of the best swimmers from the USA and the rest of the world, from Natalie Coughlin and Emily Silver to Dana Vollmer and Caitlin Leverenz. Four of the women swimming for Team USA are McKeever’s. She’s tutored four Olympian women in the other lanes as well, and Anthony Ervin credits her for resurrecting his career.

Greg Meehan: Men’s swimming assistant coach (Estonia)

Just 35, Meehan has already established himself as one of the top assistant coaches in the country. Now an associate head coach on the Cal men’s swim team, Meehan has helped his squads improve in each of his four years with the program, rising from a fourth place finish at NCAAs in 2009 to back-to-back NCAA titles, and the 2012 assistant coach of the year is a big reason for that.

Meehan will coach Estonia, but he’s not the first American to coach a foreign country in the Olympics. Men’s swim head coach David Durden took the reigns of Panama’s squad in 2004 before taking over at Cal. Given the wild success of Durden after becoming Cal’s head coach, Bears fans must be hoping Meehan doesn’t follow a similar path and jump ship. Meehan will coach Martin Liivamagi, a long shot for a medal. But if you’ve learned anything about Cal’s swimmers, it’s that you can never count them out.

Dave O’Neill: Women’s rowing assistant coach (USA)

Almost every Cal coach associated with the Olympics has a long resume, and O’Neill is no exception. The Cal women’s crew head coach will coach lightweight double sculls in London after 14 years with the Bears. Those years have been as successful as about any coach in the world of women’s rowing. Not only has he led Cal to NCAA titles in 2005 and 2006, but his ‘05 men’s eight set an NCAA record after completing a perfect season.

Although this is O’Neill’s first time coaching at the Olympics, he’s been involved in international competitions for much of his coaching career. His under-23 teams have won various gold medals in those events, including gold medals in the quad sculls in 2007 and the women’s eight a year before.

O’Neill has proven himself at Cal and on the international stage. Now he gets his chance on the biggest stage of them all.

Mike Teti: Men’s rowing assistant coach (USA)

Rowing has taken Mike Teti a long way — from the streets of West Philadelphia to Cal, and around the world many times over in between. So as Teti prepares to coach the American coxed eight in London yet again, you have to like his chances of winning yet another medal this year.

Teti’s resume is a reflection of his commitment to the sport of rowing, a commitment that has manifested itself with various medals in the Olympics. His first taste of success came in Seoul in 1988, his bronze medal rowing the men’s eight just a harbinger of his future success as a coach. In addition to his array of international honors, Teti led the men’s eight to a gold in Athens, followed by coaching the same squad to a bronze medal four years later in Beijing.

The 55-year-old will be coaching Zach Vlahos, one of his assistants in London in the men’s eight.

The post Meet the Coaches appeared first on The Daily Californian.

But despite their disparate origins, they’re all united by two things: the London Olympics, and the fact that at one point in time, they all were, are or will be Bears.

The post Editor’s Note: The Calympics Issue appeared first on The Daily Californian.

Having recently won the 2011 USA National Men’s Singles Championship, Li was the favorite to win the U.S. Olympic Trials. His focus after winning the national title could not be broken, the next step in his career was to make the Olympic team.

Li took a gap year from Cal to train for the event, for which he spent four months training in China.

“I mean, the Olympics are only once every four years, so I might as well give it a try,” Li says.

Li came back from his four months of training only to compete at the 2011 U.S. Table Tennis Championships. Li immediately returned to China after his feat to continue to train for the Olympic Trials, which were only two short months away.

But, what would have otherwise been an off day of competition for Li, fell on one of the most important days of his career at the Olympic Trials.

Having won only four out of seven of his games at the trials, Li needed to place in the top four in order to compete in the 2012 North America Olympic Games Qualifying Tournament for the Olympic slots.

But he came up short, finishing fifth.

On the most important days of his life, Li dropped the ball, literally.

For most Men’s Singles Champions, a fifth place finish at the Olympic Trials would be far more than upsetting. It would be devastating. But for Li, he sees his loss at the Olympic Trials simply as a bad day of competition for him.

“A couple of my matches didn’t go my way, and I just had a bad day, which happened to fall on the day of the Olympic Trials,” Li says.

The son of a recreational table tennis player, Li’s story begins at a local table tennis center, where he would sit after his piano lessons and watch his father play.

“A lot of (his father’s friends at the center) kept pressuring me, telling me that I should try it ‘cause I would just sit there all day, all the time. So I tried it out,” Li says.

By the age of 9, Li began sweeping national competitions, making a name for himself within the table tennis community. In 2002, at the AAU U10 Junior Olympics, Li won gold medals in the singles, doubles and teams competitions. Then, at the age of ten, Li won the U10 U.S. National Boy’s Singles competition.

Li recalls this moment as a pivotal point in his career.

“After all of that, I started taking (table tennis) more seriously, taking more lessons every week and training more in general,” Li says.

Li’s ambition didn’t stop there. At the age of 12, he began traveling to China for one or two months over his summer breaks to train. China’s domination in the sport and its organized system of training offered Li the chance to excel even further in the sport he was growing to love. Li, noting the USA was still in its fetal stages of table tennis, prefers the Chinese system of training.

“I for sure enjoyed the Chinese system of training more,” Li says. “It’s friendly competition because you’re always training with those that are higher and lower levels than you. Just seeing everyone around you improve makes you want to improve as well. You also have coaches watching you all the time, which I like. In the U.S., you’re on your own, and you only see your coaches and teammates once in a while.”

At the age of 13, Li made the National Table Tennis Team for the first time. Li maintained a spot on the national team level for five years straight. From 2007-08, he was a team member on the U.S. National Cadet Team (U15) and then the U.S. National Junior Team (U18) from 2009-11.

Li recalls the sacrifices he made for table tennis as an adolescent and all of the rewards that came from them.

“There were sacrifices I had to make to go to these tournaments but it was all worthwhile,” Li says. “You ask any other normal teenager where they have traveled and most of them have only been to a couple places, but I was able to travel to around 20 different countries. I’ve had the opportunity to experience all these different cultures and without table tennis, none of that would have been possible.”

Li’s journey to the Olympic Trials spanned over a decade of competition and exposure. Those 10 years came down to four days of competition at the Olympic Trials, and Li fell short. Li’s second chance will come in 2016, where he will hopefully have more success at 23 than he did at 19.

Despite his loss, Li entered the Olympic Trials with the mentality that his recent national title did not guarantee him a spot on the Olympic team.

“At that level, I wouldn’t say that any of us were guaranteed a spot,” Li says. “I didn’t think that one person had an advantage over everyone else. I guess a lot of people did think I was the favorite to get in, but I didn’t feel like that. The competition was so close; it could have been anyone’s spots.”

Despite his Olympic flop, a failure which he continues to downplay, Li plans to continue his career as a table tennis player. The Bay Area offers him a flourishing community of table tennis players. A lot of Chinese immigrant players in the Bay Area now coach table tennis, making the Bay a hot spot for training in table tennis.

Impressed by their involvement in intercollegiate national competition, Li also plans to join the Cal table tennis team, with distant hopes for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

“I think that if I stick with it and continue to practice hard, I’ll still have a pretty good shot for the Olympics in 2016.”

The post Building up a broken dream appeared first on The Daily Californian.

Since qualifying for Olympic Trials as a 12-year-old, Dana Vollmer has undergone open heart surgery, won an Olympic gold, injured various body parts and choked, repeatedly, with chances to advance to the Beijing Olympics on the line. This year the 24-year-old is back on the sport’s biggest stage, with two chances to earn her way back to the podium.

— Chris Yoder

Heather Petri

Petri, the oldest and most decorated member of USA women’s water polo, has already won three Olympic medals. Born in Oakland, Calif., Petri’s Olympic career began in 2000 in Sydney, forcing her to take a hiatus from Cal water polo. While at Cal she was a three-time All-American and scored a total of 147 goals, including a 51 goal season in 2005. The attacker has won two silver medals and a bronze, but has never captured that elusive gold medal. Will this be the year?

— Austin Crochetiere

Aleksa Saponjic

Just 20 years of age, Aleksa Saponjic is the youngest member of the Serbian national team. Good thing he’s used to making a splash right out of the gate. The Belgrade native dominated in his first year at Cal, racking up the third-most goals on the team (30), and he looks poised to take over as the team’s de facto standout since the departure of Ivan Rackov. But that will have to come after he competes for Team Serbia, the most elite squad in the world.

— Annie Gerlach

Marcin Tarczynski

In March, Tarczynski broke through on the national stage, winning the NCAA title in the 200 IM and shattering the school record in the process. At 21 years old, Tarczynski is a long shot to make it to the podium this year, but the Polish record holder in the 100 back has yet to reach his potential, and he could be a mainstay in the Olympics for years to come.

— Chris Yoder

Mathias Gydesen

Denmark’s Mathias Gydesen had to wait a little longer to book his flight to London. Gydesen posted the best prelim time in the 100-meter backstroke, but was one-hundredth of a second shy of the FINA qualifying time. Three months later, Gydesen received an invitation to the Olympics, where he will compete in the 100 back.

— Christina Jones

The post Olympics Preview: Your guide to the Calympics appeared first on The Daily Californian.

Last week I waited for four hours for a call from the U.S. Women’s National Team star, but it never came. I was disappointed, but not surprised. Alex Morgan has a lot on her plate. Of course she had more important things to do in her last three days before leaving for England and her first Olympic Games than to talk with me.

The real surprise came the next evening when my phone rang.

“Hi, this is Alex Morgan,” an energetic voice says. “Sorry I didn’t call you yesterday. I’ve been really busy, but I always have time for a fellow Bear.”

That one sentence told me everything I needed to know about Morgan. Just a couple of weeks away from the biggest moment in her life, in the midst of a goodbye barbecue with some of her friends, it would have been easy for her to just forget about the missed interview and focus on her own priorities.

But after speaking with her for just a few sentences, it became clear just how proud she is of her former school. After all of the acclaim, Cal still holds a special spot in Alex Morgan’s heart.

Morgan, 23, has always had a future on the soccer pitch. From her Freshman All-American season in 2007 to her All-American senior season, she led the team in scoring all four years. Morgan finished her career at Cal as the Bears’ third-best all-time leading scorer, despite missing games due to commitments to the U.S. National Team.

Those National Team commitments paid off in 2011. Morgan entered the national spotlight after last year’s Women’s World Cup, as Team USA’s exciting run ended in a penalty shootout in the finals against Japan. In spite of the loss, her token pink headband, her constant smile, and her electrifying play quickly made her a fan favorite. Since the World Cup, Morgan has replaced older players like Hope Solo and Abby Wambach as the face of women’s soccer in the United States.

“Things have been great since the World Cup, especially to grow the sport in the States,” Morgan says. “I’ve gained a little attention walking down the street. I’ve gained the endorsements, but life hasn’t changed too much. Nothing has significantly changed.”

Morgan credits much of her success at the professional level to the lessons she learned during her time at Cal.

“Cal definitely helped me grow as a person and grow as a player,” Morgan says. Coach (Neil) McGuire was always there for extra practice. And after I left, the athletic community is so tight … It’s a really great community.”

It was as part of that Cal community that Morgan finally realized the power of the rivalry with Stanford at the Big Game Bonfire her senior year.

“I couldn’t believe they were setting things on fire and they didn’t care,” Morgan says. “I finally realized the rivalry.”

Morgan has an array of memories from Cal to draw on. Still, winning a gold medal in the Olympics would top everything else.

“Last year in the World Cup, I thought we were the best team,” Morgan says. “Going into the Olympics I feel that we’re even better, which is funny. We’ve shown the world (in friendlies) that we’re capable of being the best. I think our chances are pretty good.”

Morgan is looking forward to nothing as much as playing in London’s iconic Wembley Stadium, where the gold medal game will be played. After playing her Cal home games at rundown Edwards Stadium, the world class stadiums that Morgan has gotten to play at have been an extra perk.

“All the stadiums have so much history,” Morgan says.

Winning a gold medal won’t be easy. But if Morgan and the rest of the U.S. Women’s National Team win one in Wembley, Morgan knows one place that will definitely be part of her victory tour: specifically, a newly renovated stadium in Strawberry Canyon.

“I haven’t been to Cal since last year when I went to a football game at (AT&T Park),” she says. “So I’m definitely going to make it to one or two games this year.”

The post Alex Morgan: Always a Golden Bear appeared first on The Daily Californian.