Andre Agassi won a gold medal for the USA in 1996. Andre had an outstanding singles career on the ATP Tour, winning four Australian Opens, one Roland Garros, one Wimbledon, and two US Opens, making him one of only five male players ever and the only one in the Open Era to win all four Grand Slams in singles. He reached a career high singles ranking of #1 in 1995. Andre also stands out for his charity work, founding the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation and the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy in Las Vegas, both of which benefit at-risk children in Nevada. His foundation has raised more than $60 million, far exceeding any other tennis pro's efforts.
Steffi Graf won a gold medal for Germany in 1988, and in the same year, won all four majors in singles, making her Grand Slam a "Golden Slam." Steffi won 22 Grand Slam singles titles in all, second only to Margaret Court's 24, and she is the only player, male or female, to win the Grand Slam on three different court surfaces, because the previous Grand Slams were won when all but Roland Garros were played on grass. Steffi is also the only player to win at least four of each of the majors, with four titles at the Australian Open, six at Roland Garros, seven at Wimbledon, and five at the US Open. She finished a record eight years as year-end world #1 in singles and was still ranked at #3 when she retired in 1999. Steffi married Andre Agassi in 2001.
Stefan Edberg won a bronze medal for Sweden in 1988. Stefan ranks at or very near the top among the greatest serve-and-volley players of all time. His command of the net won him six Grand Slam singles titles (two each at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open), three Grand Slam doubles titles (two Australian Opens and one US Open), and #1 rankings in singles (1990) and doubles (1986). Stefan further distinguished himself by winning the ATP's Sportsmanship Award five times (1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, and 1995). His sportsmanship was so exemplary, the ATP renamed the award the "Edberg Sportsmanship Award" in 1996.
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario won four Olympic medals for Spain, more than any other athlete. In 1992, she won the silver medal in doubles with Conchita Martinez and the bronze in singles. In 1996, she captured the silver medal in singles and the bronze in doubles, again with Martinez. Arantxa was one of the best defensive players of all time, driving opponents crazy with her ability to run balls down and get them back in play with enough depth and often topspin to neutralize an attack. Not surprisingly, given her style, three of her four singles Grand Slams came at Roland Garros. The fourth was a US Open. She also won six women's doubles Grand Slam titles, three at the Australian Open, one at Wimbledon, and two at the US Open. Arantxa was one of only a few women ever to hold simultaneously the #1 world rankings in both singles and doubles.
Brad Gilbert won a bronze medal for the USA in 1988. After a solid career on the ATP Tour, reaching his highest rankings at #4 in singles in 1990 and #18 in doubles in 1986, Brad went on to a most distinguished coaching career. He coached both Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick to #1 world rankings. Brad also authored two books, Winning Ugly: Mental Warfare in Tennis--Lessons from a Master (1994) and I've Got Your Back: Coaching Top Performers from Center Court to the Corner Office (1995).
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