Aug. 26, 2004

ATHENS -- Trojan hurdler Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic won the gold medal in the 400-meter hurdle today (Aug. 26) at the 2004 Athens Olympics. He wins the first-ever Olympic gold medal for the Dominican Republic. Pedro J. Nolasco won the Caribbean country's only medal, a bronze in boxing, in 1984. The 2003 USA Track and Field News' Athlete of the Year, Felix clocked a time of 47.63 to capture the medal. Sanchez graduated from USC with a degree in psychology in 2000. As a four-year letterwinner at USC, he won the NCAA 400m hurdles title in 2000. With this medal, a total of 15 medals have been won by a current, former or future Trojan in the 2004 Games. Athletes who attended USC before, during or after their Olympic appearance now have collected 110 golds, 64 silvers and 58 bronzes.