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Less than a week into the 2012 Olympic Games and one Cavalier can already call himself an Olympic gold medalist. Matt McLean ('11) swam in the preliminaries of the men's 4x200 freestyle relay on Tuesday, setting Team USA's Ryan Lochte, Conor Dwyer, Ricky Berens and Michael Phelps up for a gold medal finish in the finals. As I'm sure you've read, Phelps became the most decorated Olympian ever, with 19 medals.
McLean becomes just the third Cavalier swimmer to have ever won an Olympic gold, following Ed Moses in 2000 in the 4x100 medley relay and Melanie Valerio in 1996 in the 4x100 freestyle relay.
Team Virginia is now tied in the medal count with the nations of Georgia, Lithuania and Slovenia.
What else has been happening in the Olympics? No spoilers here -- results are as of Tuesday, July 31.
Staying in the pool, incoming freshman Yannick Kaeser finished 24th in the men's 200m breast, finishing 24th for Switzerland. Current senior Lauren Perdue (USA) and 2012 graduate David Karasek (Switzerland) are competing today in the 4x200 freestyle relay and the 200 IM, respectively.
Virginia's Paige Selenski and Michelle Vittese are tearing it up for USA Field Hockey, who yesterday defeated world No. 2 Argentina, 1-0. Vittese made a critical assist in the game's lone goal. It was a great bounce back victory after having fallen to powerhouse Germany, 2-1, just two days prior.
On the pitch, USA women's scocer have yet to give up a match, tearing through their group 4-2 over France, 3-0 over Colombia, and 1-0 over North Korea. Former Wahoo Becky Saurbrunn substituted in the 75th minute of Tuesday's match against North Korea.
India's Somdev Devvarman had an early exit in the Olympics, falling to Finland's Jarkko Nieminin in the first round, 6-3, 61.
Will Coleman and his horse Twizzel have also bowed out of this year's Games. Coleman competed in both individual and team eventing for the equestrian Team USA. He finished 37th overall individually and contributed to a seventh place finish for Team USA.
Virginia alumna Inge Janssen competed for the Netherlands' rowing team for a fifth place finish in women's double sculls.
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The University of Virginia is represented in London by 11 Olympians and two alternates. These athletes wear the colors of five different countries, including the United States (6), Switzerland, India, the Netherlands and Lebanon. Streaking the Lawn will keep you posted throughout the 2012 Olympic Games on how each of these past, present, and future UVA athletes perform.