Matt Grevers: Of Arms and the Man

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Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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By Michael J. Stott

I am a Matt Grevers fan for many reasons. For one, we have a lot in common. Consider this:

  • Matt loves swimming. I love swimming.
  • Matt won medals in swimming. I won medals in swimming (on a much lower level).
  • He likes to win. I like to win (I’m also a swim coach of a very good team).
  • Matt grew up in suburban Chicago. I grew up in suburban Chicago.
  • Matt went to Northwestern. My mother worked at Northwestern.
  • He has bad eyes. I have bad eyes.
  • He worked with kids at the University of Arizona. I worked with kids at U of A.
  • He is fond of Annie Chandler. I was fond of Annie Chandler (before he was).

So you see, he and I have checked the boxes together.

I have an enduring memory of Matt on deck at Hillenbrand Aquatic Center in Tucson, Ariz., addressing a young group of Wildcat campers. On that he day spoke of aquatic journeys and dreams—his and theirs. There is one story he shared with them that sticks with me to this day.

As I recall his story he was nearing his 11th birthday when a coach told him after a very good swim that he was within a half second of the 9-10 NAG record in the 50 back and that he thought Matt had a shot at it. Turns out he had one meet in which to do it before aging up. At that final competition Grevers tore through the water and after considerable squinting at the scoreboard learned he’d set the record. He told the assembled campers that before his record setting day he had previously felt his poor vision was a hindrance to pursuing excellence. On that day he learned otherwise.

After seeing him on deck I began following Matt’s career more closely. Long before this year’s Olympic Trials he was a multi-time National Team member, had earned four gold, four silver, four bronze medals at Short Course World Championships, four more golds, two silvers and one bronze at LC Worlds and four gold and two silver Olympic medals—33 international medals in all counting World University Games competition.

In 2000 Matt attended the first of his five Olympic Trials. Following a third place finish in Tuesday’s 100 back in which he is defending Olympic champion he had a second shot to make this year’s U.S. Olympic team. Wednesday morning he qualified 16th in the 100 free, but then failed to advance to Thursday’s final.

As the top eight swimmers from the 100 were being interviewed Wednesday evening, Grevers passed quickly, quietly and sadly to the anteroom to retrieve his gear. What I saw next was an image as enduring as it was endearing. Clothes in hand, the 6’8” giant of our sport paused alone, his eyes watering with tears, contemplating the moment and quite possibly his future. The world can be uncertain for a professional swimmer with a pregnant wife whose livelihood is partly dependent upon sponsors and incentive-based contracts.

In today’s culture the clichéd idiom for such a moment is “the agony of defeat,” but that’s not what I conjured. Rather I summoned up John Greenlief Whittier’s memorable words in his poem Maud Muller – “Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest of these, ‘It might have been.”

I think in that moment Matt Grevers was contemplating a lot of things. I can only guess what they were, but I know one thing, he was hurting.

And I hurt with him.

 

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Barb Chandler
Barb Chandler
7 years ago

Lots of folks hurting with you for Matt, Michael. Your words say it so beautifully.
Matt is a jewel and will continue to be a shining light for his beloved sport of swimming!

Tom Chandler
Tom Chandler
7 years ago

Thanks for this worthy sentiment. Yes, “…what might have been.” Indeed. But Matt will quickly turn to what was and is, and will give thanks for the many blessings in his life. This strong, but gentle and admirable man will take his very considerable talents and embrace new challenges. Much to celebrate!

marklewis
marklewis
7 years ago

If Matt had swum the same time he did at the 2012 trials, he would have made the team.

You have to keep improving to stay at the top of the Swimming World.

He’s had a great career and won an individual Olympic gold medal. Doesn’t get better than that.

Laura
Laura
7 years ago

I too, have followed Matt, since he was a kid. While I understand the pain of not qualifying, I am relieved for Matt that he will not be making the trip to Rio. Just as I am glad Rory McIlroy and Jason Day have decided not to make the trip there. With Zilka virus an actual threat, and a pregnant wife at home, this may be one of God’s blessings.

Whatever Matt does going forward, be it swimming or something else, there is no doubt in my mind that he will be wildly successful.

Kate S.
Kate S.
7 years ago

Every four years I watch the excitement of the trials unfold eagerly anticipating another “outside smoker” performance like a 15 year old Michael Phelps gave from lane 8 in the 2000 trials in the men’s 200 fly. I have yet to see such a gutsy performance from a virtual unknown, but that’s what the Olympic trials are all about–the debut of unknowns, the spark of champions who have meticulously practiced hour after hour for one of two spots on the Olympic team. Alternatively, I watch with heart-wrenching sadness and pain when legends fall. More often than not these champions succumb to the ravages of time. It is not because they have trained less intensely or that they are less committed…it is usually because they are “old” at 28 or 30 or 32. The 2016 trials have seen its fair share of career-ending performances. Perhaps the most painful to date (for me) was Caitlin Leverenz’ third place finish in the 200 IM by .05 hundredths of a second. The tears emerged from her eyes faster than the deficit in which she failed to make the team…the deficit that marked the end of the career of a champion. I was over-joyed when Missy Franklin placed second in the 200 free–an event that everyone from drop-dead sprinter to distance swimmer feels they have a fair chance at winning or placing second, third or fourth. After her 7th place finish in the 100 back, the event in which she is defending Olympic champion, I was all but certain her star had gracelessly fallen from the sport, but her fight, her determination to make her second Olympic team, and perhaps most impressive of all, was her belief in herself that she is still a champion.

Kathy Harding
Kathy Harding
7 years ago

Matt is a Champion swimmer and Olympian, but even a greater person.

Beaver
Beaver
7 years ago

The Olympic Gods have spoken, and they said, “We love you, Matt, but you shouldn’t try raising a family on swimming endorsement money.”

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