The Morning Swim Show, Feb. 17, 2012: Matt Grevers and Annie Chandler Relive Marriage Proposal, Discuss Prep for Trials

PHOENIX, Arizona, February 17. MATT Grevers' surprise proposal to longtime girlfriend Annie Chandler has been the talk of the swimming community for the past week, and the happy couple join today's edition of The Morning Swim Show to relive the experience.

Grevers talks about the planning that went into the proposal, which started last December when he spent time with Chandler's father over Christmas. The two reminisce about their first meeting on the pool deck in Tucson in 2007 and how it's flourished to lead to an engagement. They also talk about their preparations for the upcoming Olympic Trials and how training and racing has been important in these past few months. Be sure to visit SwimmingWorld.TV for more video interviews.

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Morning Swim Show Transcripts
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(Note: This is an automated service where some typos and grammatical errors may occur.)

Peter Busch: Welcome to The Morning Swim Show for Friday, February 17th 2012. I'm your host Peter Busch. Joining is in the FINIS monitor not only are they two of the best swimmers in America but they just got engaged and you may have seen it on TV. Matt Grevers and Annie Chandler join us right now in the FINIS monitor from Tucson, Arizona. Hey guys, congratulations.

Matt Grevers: Thank you.

Annie Chandler: Hey, thank you.

Peter Busch: Matt, you sly dog pulling it out at the Grand Prix.

Matt Grevers: That's right.

Peter Busch: You're such a Romeo.

Matt Grevers: Yes, I know. With Andy being assistant coach there at Missouri I couldn't pass up that opportunity, so it all worked out.

Peter Busch: Annie, are you wearing the ring?

Annie Chandler: I am, do you want to see it?

Peter Busch: Yes, show the viewers please.

Annie Chandler: A nice close up. It really sparkles in this light, this is perfect, we didn't even test that.

Peter Busch: Matt, did you have to pawn your silver medal for that buddy?

Matt Grevers: Yes, pretty close.

Annie Chandler: Give up his prized car, yes.

Peter Busch: So Matt how long was this in the works, this planning?

Matt Grevers: Well, after doing Duel in the Pool, I contacted Tom Chandler, Annie's dad, and asked for permission. He wanted to kind of get to know me a little better so I waited to go to San Antonio for Christmas, I got to talk to him for a bit there, and he said I had permission to marry his daughter so that's kind of when I got the wheels rolling for ideas. And I thought of a whole bunch of different things and actually while I was playing video games my friend Sean Kiely he's like "Hey, is there any way of you like proposing to Annie on an award stand?" I thought about it and said "Well maybe I could do that in Missouri" so I asked my brother and he contacted the meet coordinators and he said we're a go if that's what we wanted to do. And so I thought about it for a few more weeks and got really nervous and I was like "Yes, I should do it," or "No, that's way too public" and in the end it won and I decided to go through with it and I was very happy I did.

Peter Busch: Annie, what do you think about your engagement having been viewed a million times on YouTube?

Annie Chandler: That is ridiculous but at the same time I think it's – overall it's just been an entirely positive response and I'm glad we could share kind of the first huge moment of our life together with the world.

Peter Busch: It was certainly memorable.

Annie Chandler: Yes, I mean nothing there was staged on my part at least.

Peter Busch: You were genuinely stunned?

Annie Chandler: I was genuinely stunned.

Matt Grevers: We got her.

Peter Busch: How did you two meet?

Matt Grevers: She was at the Arizona pool deck. When I came 2007 to train with your dad and Rick DeMont at University of Arizona we met on the pool deck and I liked her from the beginning. I don't think she liked me that much at first, so slowly over time.

Annie Chandler: Well I can explain my side, Matt. Matt was the first guy I've seriously dated and I guess will be the only guy I ever dated which is pretty special. I think Matt had more of an idea of what he wanted than I did so our relationship's been interesting in that way I think. Our love has kind of like matured over the years hence why we've been together for four years and are just now getting engaged. So I couldn't be happier with the man I ended up with, I got a real keeper here.

Peter Busch: You two are so cute.

Annie Chandler: Just trying to make you melt, Peter.

Peter Busch: Is it probably too early to be talking dates? I mean you guys have got to get through the summer first, right?

Matt Grevers: Exactly.

Annie Chandler: Yes, next year, that's the only thing in concrete right now.

Peter Busch: I've got to ask since we have you – how's training going? I know you both are eyeing a spot on the team.

Matt Grevers: Yes, it's going really well. I think Eric Hansen's doing a great job here and making everyone confident and comfortable with what they're doing. Rick DeMont is still being Rick, trying new innovative things and I really enjoy that, so for me it's going really well. I got back into doubles. Last year we tried singles and I really liked it but I think this year we thought we needed a little more endurance so back on the doubles training which is – I know it's good for me so it's good.

Annie Chandler: And going to meets like this Grand Prix, it's great to have that many racing opportunities and get to watch video of ourselves. Like we always just learn a ton and I think filming something, that is real big during this Olympic year, to know what you look like in the water and you may be aware of where you are but to see it on video you gain a whole new perspective and that's something I want to work on because I realized I have some technical aspects that could use some polishing.

Peter Busch: Well congratulations again to both of you. It was a very, very fun way to do it, Matt, very creative, congratulations.

Matt Grevers: Thank you.

Peter Busch: And good luck the rest of this year.

Annie Chandler: Thanks Peter.

Matt Grevers: Thank you.

Peter Busch: All right. That's Matt Grevers and Annie Chandler joining us in the FINIS monitor today and that's it for today's show. I'm Peter Busch reminding you to keep your head down at the finish.

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