Matt Grevers, Michael Phelps, Nathan Adrian and Brendan Hansen
after the gold-medal ceremony for the 4x100 medley relay.
Aug. 8, 2012
LONDON -- Spectating during the greatest exhibition of sport has been surreal. I had to pinch myself while in the mile-high stands and remind myself this was not another swim meet. This was the greatest swim meet to date. Witnessing world-record setting swims and the USA capture 16 gold medals in the pool qualifies this Olympics as much more than a swim meet. Oh yeah, and Michael Phelps upping his personal gold medal count to 18 was monumental.
On August 5, Matt Grevers' brother and I came to get Matt from the Olympic Village and coincidentally ran into two of my former Arizona Wildcat teammates (Justine Schluntz, Rhodes scholar studying at Oxford; and Sara El Bekri, Moroccan Olympian and holder of almost all of her country's swimming records). And then Frank Busch, our former head coach at UA and current director of USA Swimming, rounds the corner with Matt. Seeing so many familiar faces in London reminds me how incredible the group of swimmers I trained with at University of Arizona swim program were and are. I always dreamed of becoming an Olympian, but I never dreamed I could come watch an Olympic Games and still feel such a part of things without diving in. Years of contributing to a team has taught me how to race with my teammates even from the pool deck. I prayed for, held my breath for and celebrated with so many athletes at these Olympic Games. I felt a part of Team USA, Team South Africa, Team Morocco, Team Brazil and Team Venezuela. The UA Wildcats are an eclectic group.
I have finally had the chance to hang out with my former teammates and my fiance now that the swimming is over and the US swim team has checked out of the athlete village. You would think the team might be sick of each other from a solid month of training camps and boredom before the Games, but this team bonded and enjoyed each other. I heard three-time Olympic veteran Brendan Hansen call this the greatest trip he's ever been on. Not because of his performances, but because of the team's cohesion. I think we can credit the leadership of Frank Busch for a lot of this Olympic team's smooth sailing, but I also know this team is composed of special, selfless individuals. London feels less like the Olympic city and more like home to me while surrounded by great stock like the U.S. swim team.
Here are some highlights from the last few days.
Encountering two of my favorite San Antonio Spurs players of all time on a London rooftop: Bruce Bowen and Robert Horry.
On the set of the Today Show. Matt Grevers, Brendan Hansen,
Nathan Adrian and Matt Lauer getting along swimmingly.
Matt and brother Andrew staying in tip-top shape in the hotel health club.
Matt with the band The Script in the Today Show hospitality room.
They were star struck by Matt and his medal. Very nice, humble guys.
The Marble Arch Marriot crew was very appreciative of Matt's generosity with
his medals and handmade him a thank you sign in addition to a bottle of
champagne, strawberries and truffles. I called dibs on the chocolate.
