Good morning! USC alums and two-time Olympians Rai Benjamin, Kendall Ellis and Michael Norman have been there for each other’s proudest moments and biggest heartbreaks. Now, they seek redemption at this year’s Summer Olympics.

🎥 Watch Unparalleled: Seeking Redemption

What else can you find in today’s edition of The Three Torches?

🏅 De Grasse, Benjamin advance to event semifinals at the Paris Olympics
🏈 Branch named to Walter Camp Watch List
⚔️ And much, much more!

🏅 TROJANS IN PARIS

Several Trojans helped their respective teams take another step closer to Olympic podiums today. For the full Day 11 recap, click here.

🏐 Trojan alum Micah Christenson helped put Team USA within reach of a medal with a 3-1 quarterfinal win today over Brazil, pushing the team through to the semifinals on Aug. 7. Christenson had 42 assists, six digs, three kills and one ace for the USA in the victory.

🏖️ A two-time national champion as a Trojan and two-time Olympian, Tina Graudina secured a spot in the quarterfinals with a tense 2-1 win over Germany while First-time Olympian Trojan Andy Benesh won his quarterfinals match after helping the USA pair to a 2-0 round of 16 win over.

👟 Rai Benjamin (USC, 2019) representing Team USA won his men's 400m hurdles first-round heat with an easy time of 48.82 to automatically advance to the semifinals on Aug. 7.  His time was 16th among the qualifiers. Andre De Grasse (USC, 2015) of Canada placed second with a time of 20.30 in his men's 200m first-round heat to automatically advance to the semifinals on Aug. 7.

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 Gone Camping. USC First Team All-American Zachariah Branch has been named to the 2024 Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List. The Walter Camp Player of the Year award, the nation's fourth-oldest individual college football accolade, is given to the nation’s most outstanding college football player. Branch will look to be an active contributor at wide receiver as well as an electric returner on special teams as a sophomore in 2024. 

🔼 The B1G Day. USC is now an official member of the Big Ten Conference, so to celebrate, USC is putting on a limited sale for the Trojan Family to see USC Women's Volleyball's brand new opponents. All single-match tickets are available now through August 9 for just $10. Act now to see the Women of Troy compete against their newest foes for the 2024 season.

🔼 Third Time’s The Charm. Second-generation Trojan Olympian Kaleigh Gilchrist is headed to the Paris Olympics to compete in women’s water polo for the third time in her career. Check out the short story of the former Trojan as she helps Team USA towards their goal of winning the gold medal.

🏈 COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF

26 days until kickoff, Trojan Family!

Capping off a perfect 12-0 regular season, the 2005 USC football team trounced crosstown rival, and No. 12-ranked UCLA, 66-19, thanks in part to Reggie Bush’s 260 rushing yards. His performance on the ground was the fifth-most rushing yards in a single game in program history.

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📅 LOOKING AHEAD

*All times Pacific

Saturday, August 10
⚽️ Soccer vs. Long Beach State @ TBD in Carson, CA

Friday, August 30
🏐 Volleyball vs. Pepperdine @ 6:00pm in Malibu, CA

Sunday, September 1
🏈 Football vs. LSU @ 4:30pm in Las Vegas, NV | Tickets

⚔️ Click here to view the full USC Trojan Athletics Calendar

⚔️ Have a great Tuesday, Trojan Family!