UC Santa Barbara was well represented at the 2008 Beijing Olympic games.Of the six Gaucho athletes there this August, three returned home with a total of three gold medals, one silver and one bronze.

Jason Lezak ’99 anchored the U.S. men’s swimming relay team to win two gold medals with world record times and won an individual bronze medal for the men’s 100m freestyle.

Todd Rogers ’96 and partner Phil Dalhausser completed a sweep of men’s beach volleyball, defeating the Brazilians in the final set to win the gold medal.

Heather Bown ’97 and the U.S. women’s volleyball team took home the silver medal.

Other 2008 Olympic Gauchos include Brian Alexander ’05, who served as an alternate for the U.S. water polo team, which won silver.

UCSB sophomore Michael Boxall went to the Olympics with the soccer team of his native New Zealand.

Mark Warkentin ’84, assistant swim coach, took to the ocean and swam the Olympics’ 10K Open Water Race, which was held for the first time in 2008. He finished eighth.

Coach Bob Alejo accompanied Rogers and Dalhausser to Beijing as a beach volleyball coach.

A total of 102 Olympians with University of California ties took part in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, representing six campuses and 25 countries, winning 43 medals.