Ten years ago, Rob Butcher was a junior at Spruce Creek high school. The
\nmorning announcements were read over the public address system and one
\nannouncement particularly caught his interest, "Coach Bob Hendren and the
\nswim team are looking for swimmers. If you want to be part of the team, with
\na promise no one will be cut, show up at the YMCA by 3:30 this afternoon."
\nTen years later, Rob Butcher officially qualified for the 2000 U.S.A. Olympic
\nswimming trials in the 100 meter breastroke. He swam a time of 56.11 in the
\n100 yard breastroke, in route to winning the Florida Swimming Championships
\nthis past weekend, almost .2 tenth's of a second under the automatic
\nqualifying time of 56.29. The trials will be held August 9-16 in
\nIndianapolis, Indiana.
\n "That announcement has forever changed my life", says Rob. "My
\nstep-father was an abusive alcoholic. I had played soccer for 12 years and
\nit was off-season. I desperately needed something to do so I wouldn't have
\nto go home", continues Rob. "I had taken swim lessons as a little kid so
\nwhen I heard that announcement, I thought to myself, I know how to swim".
\nRob's high school career was less than impressive. He was a member of the
\nSpruce Creek high school swim team his junior and senior years but never
\nqualified for the state championships. He was recruited out of high school
\nby two small schools Morehead State and Georgia Southern University, neither
\nof which has a swim team today. He opted for Georgia Southern because the
\nhead coach, Scott Farmer, was a Daytona Beach native and Father Lopez
\ngraduate. "Scott had such a positive impact on my life". "He made sure I
\ngraduated in 4 years and continued to support me while I earned my masters
\ndegree." Scott also agreed to allow Rob to tag along to watch the 1992
\nOlympic trials. "I was like a little kid on his first Christmas", says Rob.
\n February of 1994 was Rob's last collegiate swim. He won his first and
\nonly college conference title on his very last swim, the 200 yard breastroke.
\n "To date, it probably still is my fondest swimming memory. The coach of the
\nwinning swimmer in each event presented awards and it meant Scott would put
\nthe conference title around my neck." His time of 2:09, though, wasn't all
\nthat impressive compared to other swimmers across the country. It didn't
\neven qualify for U.S. Nationals, but it was fast enough to win the conference
\ntitle.
\n After that meet, Rob, went into "retirement" mode. "There is not a
\nprofessional league for swimmers and if there was, I certainly wasn't fast
\nenough." Rob accepted a one-year internship with the Auburn University
\nAthletic department that allowed him to complete his masters degree. It was
\nthere, he met 1984 triple Olympic gold medalist Rowdy Gaines. The two became
\nbusiness partners with Rob overseeing marketing and publicity for Rowdy
\nGaines.
\n "Rowdy has been a tremendous mentor the last 4 years, but the biggest
\nchange in my life from my time at Auburn was accepting Christ into my life.
\nHaving Christ as my anchor, has allowed me to grow into the person and
\nswimmer I am today."
\n In 1997, Rob came out of retirement and entered his first meet in almost
\n3 years. His times, with limited training, were identical to his best-times
\nin college. "I knew my senior year at Georgia Southern, I could still go
\nfaster. That was my motivation to try again." In December of that year, Rob
\nqualified for his first U.S. Nationals in the 100 meter breastroke, at the
\nage of 25.
\n He subsequently requalified for last summer's nationals. But, in his
\nwords, "I struggled miserably at both meets. I had put such great
\nexpectations on myself and based my success on end year times."
\nRob now goes into this summers Olympic trials, having experienced both the
\nhigh's and low's of swimming. "It took me 10 tries to qualify for the 100
\nmeter breastroke. And the first 9 failed attempts all hurt pretty bad.
\nFailures, like the missed 9 tries and disappointments of nationals are very
\nhumbling. But each one gave me another opportunity to grower closer in my
\nrelationship with God and recognize that whether I ever made it to the
\nOlympic trials or not, He still loved me for who I am."
\n As for his chances at the trials, Rob is realistic. There are over
\n350,000 registered swimmers who try every 4 years to make the U.S. Olympic
\nteam. About 800 will make an Olympic trial cut and of that, only about 26
\nwill actually make the Olympic team. He is ranked 30th in the country in his
\nevent among a potential field of about 65 participants, with less than 3
\nseconds separating all 65 swimmers. Only the two fastest will make the
\nOlympic team, but Rob still holds onto a glimmer of hope.
\n "I have faith in God's plan, an incredible support team of my wife
\nHeather (Heather is also a Georgia Southern graduate, and nationally ranked
\ntriathlete who will represent Team U.S.A. in this years Triathlon World
\nChampionships, ironically, held in Australia), sponsors (Prolyte Energy
\nDrinks, Victor bathing suits, and PK5 pain reliever), Prudential, my
\nemployer, and friends", says Rob, "who all share in my success."
\n "You can never, and I mean never, underestimate the emotion of the
\nOlympic Trials," Rob says emphatically. "I've seen favorites and world record
\nholders fall on their face. And I've seen guys like me shine for a day and
\nswim out of their minds. Anything is possible at the Olympic Trials."
\nWhatever the outcome at the trials, Rob will hang up his swimsuit for good at
\nthe end of this season. But he'll always be happy knowing he had the courage
\nto chase his dream.
\n "I'm blessed to have achieved what I did in swimming," Rob says. "I've
\ncome farther in this sport than I could've ever dreamed. I will be very proud
\nto share the memories and encourage my kids and grand kids one day."
\nHe may be able to tell his kids that he made it all the way to the
\nOlympics–you never know.<\/p>\n
Rob's time of 56.11 breaks the 9 year old USMS record
\nof 56.29 in the 25-29 age group.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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