Forty-one current, former and future Trojans will compete at the 2008 Olympic Games, which have kicked off in Beijing.

USC leads all American universities in the number of athletes who have participated during the 104-year history of the modern Olympics. This year’s 40 participants, second in the nation behind Stanford University, would extend USC’s record total of all-time Olympians to 384.

Trojan athletes have collected 236 medals, including at least one gold in every summer Olympics since 1912. Only 11 nations have won more gold medals than the 112 by USC athletes.

“Once again, Trojan athletes from throughout the world will gather at the Olympics and compete successfully at the highest level in their sports,” said USC athletic director Mike Garrett. “It is something we’ve come to expect ever since our first Olympian in 1904. USC’s Olympic tradition of participation and success by its athletes is unlike any other university, and the Beijing Games will further enhance that legacy.”

Allyson Felix ’08 is the most likely individual athlete to continue USC’s gold rush, though the sprinter never actually competed for the school. Felix became the first female in track and field ever to turn professional right out of high school in 2003.

Part of her contract with Adidas was to pay for her college education. She chose to attend USC, where her brother Wes competed, and graduated in May with a degree in elementary education.

Although Felix never wore the uniform, USC track and field coach Ron Allice said it doesn’t make her any less of a Trojan.

“What people don’t realize is she could have gone any place and the shoe company had to pay,” Allice said. “That’s a Trojan family. Her brother was the captain of the team here. She’s on the pillar (dedicated to USC Olympians at the entrance to the Katherine B. Loker Track and Field Stadium). If you’re an Olympian and go to school here, that’s where you’re going to be.”

Sports Illustrated picked Felix as the favorite to win her best event, the 200-meter dash. She won the silver in that event at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. She also could help the United States medal in the 400- and 1,600-meter relays.

Felix was one of 39 Trojan athletes in Athens, a group that brought home eight gold medals and 17 overall.

USC would be more than halfway to breaking its 2004 gold medal total if the United States wins in women’s water polo. Junior Kami Craig, Patty Cardenas ’08, Brittany Hayes ’07, Moriah Van Norman ’06 and Lauren Wenger (on track to graduate soon), amazingly make up five of the 13-person roster.

“We’re very proud and really excited about watching the Olympics,” USC water polo coach Jovan Vavic said. “The last Olympics, we didn’t have anyone on the team. I think it says we’ve done a good job recruiting and developing players the last four years.”

If the U.S. doesn’t win at women’s water polo, USC still has its bases covered. Russia is considered the main competition for the title, and the Russian captain is 2004 USC graduate Sofia Konoukh. Another contender is Hungary, where USC has a representative in Aniko Pelle ’03.

Konoukh and Pelle are part of a large international constituency of USC athletes. Twenty of the 40 Trojans are competing for 16 countries outside the United States. Eight are currently at USC, 30 are former Trojans and Katinka Hosszu, who will represent Hungary in swimming, is an incoming freshman.

USC also is well-represented among Olympic coaches and staff.

Ten USC-affiliated coaches or former athletes will be in Beijing coaching or helping with track, baseball, water polo, swimming and volleyball. Three current USC coaches in the group are track’s Tina Fernandes, assisting Puerto Rico’s women’s track team, head swimming coach Dave Salo, the head coach of men’s swimming for Tunisia, and diving head coach Hongping Li, serving on the staff of the U.S. Olympic Committee.

The other seven former USC coaches or athletes are assisting U.S. teams, such as Bernice Orwig ’99, a former USC water polo goalie and 2000 Olympic silver medalist, who is an assistant coach for women’s water polo.

Other athletes who are possibilities to win gold medals include Los Angeles Sparks forward Lisa Leslie ’97 and Tina Thompson ’97 in women’s basketball, senior Amy Rodriguez in soccer, Torri Edwards ’05 and Angela Williams ’02 in track and swimmers Larsen Jensen ’07, Erik Vendt ’05 and Klete Keller, currently a junior.

“It will be fun for Trojan fans across the globe to root on the many USC athletes who will be competing in Beijing,” Garrett said. “A number of those Trojans have excellent chances of bringing home medals. Not only will their home countries be solidly behind them in their quest, but so will the entire Trojan Family.”

For the full list of Olympians, visit http://usctrojans.cstv.com/genrel/073008aaa.html