Before Roy Oswalt was a three-time All-Star and an NLCS MVP, he was a member of the 2000 Olympic Team that won gold in Sydney, Australia. Drafted by the Houston Astros in 1997, Oswalt quickly made a name for himself in the minor leagues. In his first game with the Double-A Round Rock Express he struck out 15 batters, and on the heels of a strong 2000 season, he was named to the Olympic club. Oswalt got the nod for the semifinal game against Korea, which the U.S. won on a walk-off home run in the ninth inning. Team USA went on to win the gold by defeating world power Cuba, completing one of the most historic upsets in Olympic history. In Oswalt's two starts he had an ERA of 1.38 and only gave up two runs while striking out 10 batters. The next year he got called up to the Major Leagues and went 14-3 with a 2.73 ERA as a rookie. Since then he was been named to the N.L. All-Star Team three times (2005, 2006, 2007) and was named the NLCS MVP in 2005 behind two seven-inning one-run performances. He also competed on the 2009 World Baseball Classic Team, and most recently was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies as part of blockbuster trade deadline deal.

USA Baseball caught up with Roy Oswalt as part of its weekly Q&A series with members of the historic 2000 U.S. Olympic Baseball Team.

USA Baseball: You have had tremendous success in the Major Leagues, but where does the gold medal rank in all time baseball moments for you personally?
Roy Oswalt: It ranks in the top two. Growing up, you always pull for the U.S. It's special because instead of representing a city, you're representing the entire country.

USAB: A year after you were in the Olympics you got called up to the majors. Do you believe that your summer experience helped you in any way to get to that point?
RO: Yes. You're pitching against world competition.

USAB: You started the semifinal game against Korea and going into the last inning the game was still tied. Take me through your emotions when you see the ball leave Doug Mientkiewicz's bat and land in the stands?
RO: The first thing I thought was that it'd guaranteed us a medal, and we only had one more game to win to accomplish what we'd came to accomplish.

USAB: Having taken the mound in the previous game, what were your feelings knowing you were going to have to watch the gold medal game without being able to help your team?
RO: Even though I wasn't pitching, I had helped the team get there. (Ben) Sheets was on the mound, and I had confidence in him.

USAB: As you stood on the field and heard the National Anthem being played while a gold medal was draped around your neck, what were you thinking?
RO: I was remembering growing up and watching the Olympics on TV and how it doesn't matter who you are or where you're from but that you're representing the U.S. Representing my country is probably one of the greatest things I've ever done.

Other 2000 Olympic Team Updates

• Sydney 10 years later: Mike Neill
• Sydney 10 years later: John Cotton
• Sydney 10 years later: Anthony Sanders
• Sydney 10 years later: Ernie Young
• Sydney 10 years later: Chris George
• Sydney 10 years later: Mike Kinkade
• Sydney 10 years later: Brent Abernathy
• Sydney 10 years later: Adam Everett
• Sydney 10 years later: Doug Mientkiewicz