Road to Rio: Matt Grevers

Name: Matt Grevers
Event: 400-meter Freestyle Relay, 400-meter Medley Relay
Height: 6-8
Weight: 229

DOB: 3/26/1985

Birthplace: Lake Forest, Ill

Hometown: Lake Forest, Ill.

High School: Lake Forest High School (Lake Forest, Ill.)
Current Residence: Lake Forest, Ill.
College: Northwestern

Matt Grevers

Take away the four Olympic gold medals, the three world championships, the four NCAA titles and the B1G Conference records, and you have a guy famous for his proposal skills alone. Some might argue that pulling off the perfect surprise proposal takes as much talent as becoming a professional swimmer.  Grevers popped the question to girlfriend (and fellow national team member) Annie Chandler in February 2012 at the Missouri Grand Prix. The video went viral, and one of swimming’s reigning power couples ascended the throne.

Before his romantic tendencies were exposed to the YouTube world, Grevers was a tall Chicago kid with a love for swimming. Born and raised in Lake Forest, IL, he showed early promise at high school meets, setting three state records and contributing to Lake Forest High School’s first men’s team state championship. He swam for Patriot Aquatics Swim Club under coach Lea Mauer.

Olympic Experience:

• Two-time Olympian (2008, 2012); Five-time Olympic medalist ( 4 gold, 1 silver)
• London 2012 Olympic Games, gold (100-meter backstroke, 4x100-meter medley)
• Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, gold (400-meter freestyle relay, 400-meter medley relay), silver (100-meter backstroke)

Career Highlights:

• 2015 FINA World Championships, gold (4x100-meter medley), silver (50-meter backstroke), bronze (100-meter backstroke)
• Won 5 medals at the 2014 FINA Short Course World Championships in Doha, Qatar
• 2014 Pan Pacific Games, gold (4x100-meter medley relay), silver (100-meter backstroke)
• 2013 FINA World Championships, gold (100-meter backstroke), tied for silver (50-meter backstroke)
• 2012, FINA World Short Course Championships, gold (100-meter backstroke, 4x100-meter freestyle, 4x100-meter medley), silver (50-meter backstroke)
• 2011 ConocoPhillips National Championships, 1st (100-meter and 200-meter backstroke), 4th (100-meter free), 7th (50-meter freestyle)
• Captured three gold medals at the 2009 MOO Duel in the Pool
• Earned two gold medals at the 2009 FINA World Championships as a member of the 4x100 free

Fun Facts: Nicknamed Nu because that is the name of his mage in Warcraft (a role-playing game) ... Favorite television show is Family Guy ... Older sister, Carolyn, swam for University of Kansas ... Older brother, Andy, swam for Northern Illinois, Sister Carolyn coaches for Lake Forest 

USA Swimming article- 20 Q's

BY BOB SCHALLER//CORRESPONDENT

Matt Grevers has put together a career for the ages. He, Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps -- all over age 30 now -- have taken turns being the best and leading the way. After winning two golds and a silver in Beijing, he turned around and did the same thing in London. Along the way representing the U.S., he has won 14 gold medals, 12 silver and 5 bronze medals, for an eye-popping total of 31. He also set the world record in the 100 back in December. And his marriage proposal to the former Annie Chandler, now assistant managing editor of Swimming World Magazine, won the collective heart of the world. He talks about how he feels, what married life with another swimmer is really like, and how much it meant to get a world record after age 30 in this week’s 20 Question Tuesday.

1. Jack Bauerle made this wonderful comment about how when you get Matt and Nathan together, there’s something about the way they carry themselves as leaders -- what does that mean to you?

Matt: That means a ton. That means I have done something right which is a great acknowledgement of the coaching I’ve had, my parents and, how they brought me up. It feels good that someone else recognizes that we present ourselves in a positive way.

2. You’ve done everything right -- you have made such good, solid choices in your career, how did it work out that?
Matt: Focusing on what matters -- religion is important for me now and has been a guiding source. The Bible has helped guide me to the lifestyle choices I have made and I think that helps you meet the right person, and helps you manage your life.  

3. Getting that record at the Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool, how much did that mean -- I realize you didn’t need it for peace in your heart after a great career already -- and did you think you’d get it?l
Matt: It was an amazing swim and I did see it coming the week before. We have a short course meter pool, and I was throwing some good times in practice where I thought, you know maybe I can get the world record. I had it in mind. Going through Nationals, I was like “Okay, I feel pretty good, I’m going pretty fast, it’s a real opportunity. Then definitely after the 200 backstroke where I closed pretty strongly at Duel in the Pool, I knew that it was even more of a possibility. I slept on it that night, and I got really excited. I woke up really excited thinking, “Okay I feel good, everything is lining up, let’s go get it today.” You’re right, it doesn’t really mean there’s peace in my heart to get it but I have wanted to say for a very long time that, “I am the greatest in the history of the world.” You have to be specific and say short-course (100) meter backstroke. But it’s pretty cool to be able to say that. I’ve been gunning for Aaron’s world record for a while. It’s very evasive so it’s nice to have one so if I don’t get one in the future at least I’ve got this one.  

4. Did you think when you first turned pro you’d still be going now?
Matt: Absolutely not. I remember the Chicago 2016 bid. People asking, “Do you think you’re gonna swim that long?” I kind of smiled and said, “Well, maybe, thinking in my head, “Absolutely not, I have to find a real career and start a real life sooner than that.” I really love the lifestyle, I’ve been fortunate enough to have a good livelihood while still being able to compete. So I get to do what I love and support a family and really just have a lifestyle that I’ve always dreamt about. It’s perfect. I think the end is coming up. But yeah, I have really enjoyed it and have no regrets about continuing to swim for as long as I have.

5. Being married to someone like Annie, a National Teamer, who can understand your life -- how important is it to have someone who can relate?
Matt: I think that’s incredibly valuable. When someone really understands it, they can enjoy it with you that much more. So when I accomplish something, I know she truly understands exactly what I did. She’s been very accomplished in her own right in swimming. She’s still swimming masters so we still talk stroke and techniques. She’s extremely understanding as well. I’ll go to Colorado Springs for a two-week training camp; I think that would be hard to explain to someone why I need to go away from home just to train. She gets it. My next months of traveling, really from January to almost April, I’m only home for two or three weekends over those three months. She understands that’s the lifestyle I need to live this year, fully supportive -- that’s really nice. That’s one less burden that could be very significant. She’s encouraging and a positive influence. I can’t emphasize enough how important and valuable Annie’s understanding is for me

6. You guys bought a house a few years ago, how big of a life marker is that?
Matt: It was and we love our house. Everything about it. We’re pulling up the blueprints now to get our garden started and we’re talking about getting a chicken coop. We got the windows done together -- any little home improvement -- you can see (holds up computer) the walls are painted, this is a real home. I never lived in a home before; I lived in kind of the swimmer’s bachelor (laughs) house.  I love being home -- it’s hard for me to travel because I enjoy it here so much - everything about it. We have two doggies here, so this is our little family. When you buy a house, you are kind of setting your roots and you really feel like it is your home -- it’s not just where you are training. I’ve established myself as a Tucson resident. I like the idea of putting money toward something instead of renting, which feels like throwing money away. Everything feels good about owning a home. 

7. You have won so many medals I couldn’t do a graphic to do it justice -- to have gold in every meet you did, does that help you walk away from experiences knowing you brought your best?
Matt: Not every one -- I can’t walk away from every experience saying that. I do remember pretty well in 2009 (at World Championships in Rome) I got to be a part of some of those relays (and won two gold medals) which was very nice. But I didn’t medal individually in my backstroke, and that was kind of an eye opener for me -- just that, hey you have to train hard. Everyone takes that little break after an Olympic year and that was kind of a shocker. Like hey, this sport is very unforgiving, if you want continue to do well you can’t take a season off or that season will suffer. So I would say 2009 was a bit of an eye opener in just realizing I am not going to walk away from every meet completely satisfied -- which up until that point I pretty much had. I have been very fortunate with success in meets. I really haven’t had too many or really any illnesses or injuries. That’s been very helpful. Getting to be part of relays make up a lot (laughs) of those gold-colored medals. Individually, I have definitely enjoyed most of my races. But here and there, you get a couple things that get you more motivated for the next season.   

8. Didn’t 2009, what you took from that, lead to greater growth?
Matt: That’s definitely right. And 2009 turned into working extremely hard for 2010 and not even making the team in 2010, which also means if you don’t make it in 2010 you don’t make it for 2011 because of the double-season selection. That was a whole different experience; 2009 was hey, you need to work really hard to stay in it; in 2010 it was, you don’t just need to work hard, you need to work smart. I never really ran into that before. You think, okay the harder I work the better I am going to do. It’s a simple formula that’s ingrained in you from when you’re 8 years old through college -- hey, the harder you work, the more you get out of it. Okay, I’m just going to work harder and it’s only going to get better. I realized in 2010, you can’t just bang your head against the wall. You have to think about technique. And every stroke matters. Don’t form bad habits. That was another lesson learned. I became a lot more stroke conscious in 2011 through ‘12 and that’s where I really found success and where I became aware of my race and efficiency. Not just being able to finish strong, but being able to race intelligently. It’s an ever-learning evolution.  

9. I almost got embarrassed asking Nathan about you yesterday. He said he goes to you for everything, tapping you as a reservoir for information, like a big brother, he said. Nathan said you’ve helped shape his thinking and benefited his career - what’s that mean to you?
Matt: That means a lot. I’m about to tear up over here. That’s awesome. That’s really cool. I also look to Nathan for a lot of knowledge and experiences. He’s wise beyond his years. I might be older than him but he’s very poised in every situation I’ve see him in. I think we use each other’s knowledge. He’s just an example of how I want to race, and how I want to train. His intensity and focus in practices… every time I see how fast he is able to go, and the energy he is able to pull for practice lets me see what the highest level of intensity is like, and if that’s possible for me. I’m very glad to hear I could be of some sort of assistance to him. He provides great, great assistance to me. I don’t view him as a little brother -- we’re more (laughs) like twins.

10. Your 100 free has been amazing, too. Your backstroke is awesome and you have your gold and record, but how smart was it to do the 100 free as well?
Matt: I think it’s very smart because you get different muscle groups tired so I can get the aerobic and anaerobic training without hurting my backstroke too much. If I get tired I like to try to roll on my stomach, so I keep my backstroke hopefully near perfect technically. It’s a great second option just to have in the back of your mind when I’m racing backstroke that it’s not an end-all. This isn’t the only race for me. If something happens, if I slip off my start, whatever it was, it’s calmed by the knowledge I have another event in the 100 freestyle. Beyond that now it’s just about wanting to be the best I can be for the country -- that 400 free relay for the country means a lot to me, it’d be awesome to help that relay achieve its goal, which is winning. 

11. Your times now -- how do you feel about where you are at in the run-up?
Matt: I am exactly where I want to be. I am really happy with how I’ve trained, with the weight room and in the water, everything’s coming together very well. I had a hard training season last year and it’s all setting up for this year where I’m finding my stroke while maintaining my strength and maintaining my endurance. 

12. Doesn’t being married, especially to a swimmer, mean you eat better?
Matt: Annie keeps me healthy. We eat very healthy, every single day. She cooks. Last night she had a healthy type of noodles and tofu and lots of vegetables. Every day we eat healthy. And I still feel very strong with lots of energy. So I eat a lot -- but it’s a lot of healthy food so I have all the sustenance and nutrition I need. 

13. Have you always eaten well -- is that how you stay so lean?
Matt: My Mom is very health conscious. So growing up she sets me up on a very good diet. I was the kind of kid if you convinced me lima beans were going to make me very strong and powerful I was going to be very powerful. So when she said eat spinach, it’ll make you like Popeye -- spinach became my favorite. 

14. That engagement video still has a life all its own -- even though you still get asked about it every week, it’s not a bad thing to be asked about though, is it?
Matt: Not a bad thing at all. It’s very unique. It’s very interesting. I didn’t expect that to happen -- I didn’t expect the publicity to happen. I obviously did it in front of a lot people at the meet. But I thought it would end there, and be more romantic. So I kind of thought it was getting out of control for a while (laughs) but everyone talks about it with such happy thoughts -- it’s really a positive story. I think the fact that we could bring a little joy during that period with our story is really cool. I love when people bring it up. It’s cool that it’ll be remembered for a while. It’s a good story to be able to tell.

15. I remember the day ESPN aired it, I was getting texts, posts and emails -- your phone must’ve been working overtime?
Matt: Yeah, it was getting blown up! I love talking to the family and friends about it, but I just wanted to spend time with Annie so I did, I pretty much shut it off. I was at my brother’s house and just camped out for a day or two.

16. Choosing to go from Northwestern to Arizona as a post-grad, what went into that?
Matt: I wanted to swim outdoors. That was pretty much the primary objective for me. So that narrowed it down to a few clubs or programs. My (recruiting) trip to Arizona was amazing, it was a tough choice for me between Arizona and Northwestern. John Pontz, my Northwestern coach, had coached at Tucson, he was with Tucson Ford, and he kind of had that connection with Frank Busch. He knew I was looking to swim outdoors and switch it up. He made it very easy for me, that transition, which was nice. I didn’t have to think about it too much. He basically said, “Do you want to go there,” and I was like, “Yes, I think I do.” So it was fast moving from there and I didn’t have to think about too many other choices. Having Rick DeMont there and the whole 2004 gold medal relay from South Africa was training there. At that point the 100 free was looking like a much better possibility than the 100 backstroke, so I was thinking more about training the 100 freestyle. So everything came together and it was the best choice.

17. How is it possible you are readying for your fifth Olympic Trials -- not even close to middle age, and you are doing something less than 1% of 1% get to do, do you ever sit back and reflect on how amazing this has been?
Matt: I really haven’t sat back and looked at it. It is very cool. But I am still goal oriented. I still think about what I want to do, not what I have done. I do sit back and enjoy the moments, but then it’s right back to the next goals. I like being direct and forward driven. I’ll enjoy it once I’m retired but now I’m so focused on putting my energy into my future goals.

18. It’s all about the miles not the years -- does that maybe explain how you guys in your 30s are still going fast, that you are taking better care of yourselves at this stage in your life? And the fact that you all have traded the “best swimmer” baton for so many years now in building three historically great careers?
Matt: Well, thank you for putting me in a category with Michael and Ryan. I think the young guns are about ready to kick us out, coming up. I like how you said maybe an older model with less mileage on it.  I kind of switched my training style after 2010, to be a smarter trainer, and go to quad training; where 2013 was kind of a relaxed year, 2014 was kind of a slow build, a hard 2015 and now a sharpening of 2016. I think just having that format in your mind before you really even start the quad is just good for you to know which phase you’re in. It’s not just pounding out the miles and putting tons of miles on my shoulders and knees. The sport’s is evolving with the knowledge of dynamic warm-ups and just keeping your shoulder and knee joints strong. I know now that fish oils (laughs) are good for you. It’s keeping us younger just knowing about nutrition and different strength and other exercises. So I think we are still Ferraris ready to go, maybe older, but still being very well tuned.  

19. February is Black History Month -- how thrilled are you, especially with you having roots in the Netherlands, to see this improving?
Matt: Of course it is awesome seeing more diversity in our sport. Seeing Giles, Cullen, Lia and Simone swim so well -- they are leading the way. They are blazing the path. I’m sure there will be more diversity to come in swimming. It is great and it is exciting. Everyone enjoys that on the pool deck.

20. You looked inside yourself a couple of years ago and found something amazing to put together such an extended, standout career for the ages. What has this sport taught you about yourself?
Matt: So much. I love this sport. Just being able to be in the weightlessness of the water and being able to think just with yourself. I have always had a great support team with my family, coaches, friends, teammates and wife. But I really love being in the water and almost hearing nothing, when you go to the bottom of the pool and hearing that watery echo sound. It’s taught me how to think, how to be patient. I think patience has helped me find the right people in my life, and make the right choices. Swimming has helped me with all of that. Swimming has done so much for me. It has made me the person I am. I hope that’s a good person. I hope to be able to give back to this sport.