Raymond claims first Olympic medal at age 38

Former Florida Gators tennis player Lisa Raymond (United States) had two opportunities on Sunday to capture her first Olympic medal. Following a disappointing finish in women’s doubles, Raymond and partner Mike Bryan stood tough against their German competitors and won bronze in mixed doubles at the 2012 London Olympics.

The most accomplished tennis player in school history, Raymond was the first of any gender to sweep the three collegiate Grand Slam titles in a single season (1992). She captured consecutive NCAA Championships as a singles competitor in 1992-93 and helped lead the Gators to the first team NCAA Championship in program history.

Despite not finding much success as a professional singles player, Raymond has been an outstanding doubles teammate. She has won 11 Grand Slam titles over her career including six in women’s doubles and five in mixed doubles.

Raymond/Bryan won Wimbledon in June.

Raymond has also been a part of a No. 1-ranked women’s doubles team twice in her career including this year with partner Liezel Huber, making her – at age 38 – the oldest woman to ever hold that ranking.

Her Olympics career has not been as stellar, however. Raymond was controversially left off the 2000 team and did not qualify for the 2008 squad. She did, however, compete alongside the legendary Martina Navratilova at the 2004 Athens Olympics; the duo fell in the quarterfinals and did not medal.

As the top-ranked team in the world, adding Raymond/Huber to the 2012 team was a no-brainer for the Americans, and Raymond in particular came bitingly close to brining home two medals for the United States.

In the end she and Bryan, ranked third in the field, took bronze with a 6-3, 4-6 (10-4) victory in an event that was last contested at the Olympics in 1924.

Raymond/Huber, listed as the No. 1 women’s doubles team, played well earlier in the day but fell to the third-ranked Russians 4-6, 6-4, 6-1. Huber appeared to injure a stomach muscle following the second set and the duo was unable to perform at the same level for the duration of the match.

For recaps of their performances, a full schedule (including updated events for Monday), live stream links and a Gator Nation vs. The World medal count, be sure to check out OGGOA’s Live Coverage of the 2012 London Olympics.