Clemson and the Olympics: An expansive history

As Clemson students graduate and move on from this great University, they set out on paths that look different for everyone in search of success and glory. But for two uber-talented Clemson students in 1988, success and glory found them right here at Clemson.

With the 2026 Winter Olympics set to begin on Feb. 6, there is no better time to jump into a time machine and go 38 years back.

In 1988 in Seoul, South Korea, two Clemson students medaled at the Olympic Games while still enrolled at the school, becoming the first Tigers to achieve such a feat. Gold medal-winning baseball player Mike Milchin and bronze medal-winning swimmer Mitzi Kremer, now Mitzi Tighe, set the precedent for Clemson student-athletes by earning the highest achievement in all of sports.

Picture from Sports Collectors Daily

Mike Milchin, an iconic figure in Clemson baseball history, was a pitcher and first baseman who played in orange and purple from 1986 to 1989. With a career batting average of .319 and an ERA of 2.79 in his two-way role for the Tigers, Milchin took the team to an 1989 ACC Championship.

But before that title, Milchin was selected to the 1988 United States Olympic baseball team, when the sport was still a “demonstration” sport at the Olympics, officially becoming a true sport in 1992. For the demonstration phase and for the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games, Team USA consisted of collegiate and amateur talent.

Milchin played alongside future two-time All-Star and Silver Slugger first baseman Tino Martinez, future three-time All-Star pitcher MLB Charles Nagy and the 1989 Draft’s No. 1 selection Andy Benes.

In 1988, Milchin and Team USA went 2-1 in the preliminary round, ultimately advancing to the knockout stage. They would beat Puerto Rico 7-2 in the semifinals and then beat Japan in the finals 5-3 to earn gold. Over this run, Milchin played as a backup first baseman to Martinez, and slashed a .154 AVG, as well as going 4-1 as a pitcher with a 1.93 ERA and two saves.

Milchin was drafted in the second round of the 1989 Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, but would only play 39 games as a pitcher in 1996 for the Minnesota Twins and Baltimore Orioles.

Pictured above: The 1988 4x100 freestyle relay team for Team USA - (left to right) Mary Wayte, Dara Torres, Laura Walker and Mitzi Kremer (photo from Neil Leifer / Getty Images)

In the pool, Kremer swam at Clemson from 1986 to 1989, and made history beyond just performing at the Olympic level. Kremer became the first swimmer to be inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame in 1994. She was a standout for the Swimming and Diving team, and arguably was the most decorated swimmer in Clemson history.

Kremer helped Clemson win three consecutive ACC Championships from 1987 to 1989, as well as winning NCAA titles in 1987 for the 200-yard freestyle and 500-yard freestyle. As a Tiger, Kremer earned 16 All-American honors. She also holds three school records to this day in the 100-yard freestyle, 48.94, 1989; 500-yard freestyle, 4:39.14, 1989; and 1000-yard freestyle, 9:44.20, 1989.

For the 1988 national team at Seoul, Kremer swam the 100 and 200 freestyle, as well as the 4×100 freestyle relay. In the 100 free, Kremer placed 12th, and in the 200 free, she placed sixth.

Kremer joined Milchin in school history by earning a bronze medal in the relay, teaming with Dara Torres, Mary Wayte and Laura Walker.

While these two star student-athletes made history in Seoul as the first Clemson students to medal while enrolled at the University, they were far from the last. Five other Tigers have accomplished this feat after Michlin and Kremer: Carlton Chambers, a gold medalist in men’s track in 1996; Kris Benson, bronze medalist in baseball in 1996; Billy Koch, bronze medalist in baseball in 1996; Matt LeCroy, bronze medalist in baseball in 1996; and Kailen Sheridan, bronze medalist in women’s soccer in 2016.

Michelin and Kremer were also not the first Clemson Olympic medalists currently enrolled or graduated, as four Tigers preceded them after graduating from Clemson: Noel Loban, bronze medalist in wrestling in 1984; Michelle Richardson, silver medalist in women’s swimming in 1984; Desai Williams, bronze medalist in men’s track in 1984; and Tony Sharpe, bronze medalist in men’s track in 1984.