Aug. 24, 2008

Gabe Gardner, who played for USC for 2 seasons in the 1990s, was a member of the U.S. men's volleyball team that won a gold medal on the final day of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The U.S. team was the surprise of the tourney, upsetting defending champion Brazil, 3-1, for the gold.

Gardner starred for the Trojans in 1996 and 1997 before transferring to Stanford. He earned Freshman All-American honors in 1996.

It was his second Olympic appearance. He was a member of the fourth-place U.S. squad in 2004.

USC athletes won 21 medals in Beijing: 9 gold, 10 silver and 2 bronze.