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|
| Matt
GREVERS |
| Sport |
Swimming |
| NOC |
United States
|
| Gender | Men |
| Born | 26 Mar 1985
in Lake Forest, IL, USA |
| Height | 2.03 m |
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Further Personal Information |
Residence |
Tucson, AZ, USA |
Sport Specific Information |
Club / Team |
Tucson Ford Dealers Aquatics: United States |
Further Personal Information |
Higher education |
Communications - Northwestern University: Evanston, IL, USA |
General Interest |
Famous relatives |
His sister Carolyn swam for the University of Kansas and his brother Andy competed for Northern Illinois University in the United States of America. His wife Annie Grevers [nee Chandler] swam for the University of Arizona and competed at the World University Games in 2011. She has since worked as a swim coach and as a staff writer for Swimming World Magazine. (usaswimming.org, 03 Jul 2016; teamusa.org, 14 Feb 2013; dailymail.co.uk, 14 Feb 2012; people.com, 16 Jun 2016; swimmingworldmagazine.com, 03 Oct 2017) |
Sport Specific Information |
When and where did you begin this sport? |
He took up swimming at age five. |
General Interest |
Nicknames |
Dutch [both his parents are from the Netherlands], Nu [the name of his character in the video game World of Warcraft], Gentle Giant. (usaswimming.org, 03 Jul 2016; fitterandfaster.com, 01 Sep 2016; a3performance.com, 16 Nov 2020) |
Other information |
SHIFTING FOCUS
He spoke about shifting his focus towards family and work commitments after competing at the 2021 US Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska, where he finished sixth in the 100m backstroke final and missed qualification for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. "Next step is probably doing more with real estate, maybe starting a swim school, and just being a dad again. I love swimming, so I am going to keep doing it in some way, shape or form. If I can be competitive, I will keep trying to stay out there. If the [COVID-19] pandemic taught me anything, it's to always be prepared for the next opportunity. This sport has been so good to me. It's been a warm embrace all the way through." (whatsupusana.com, 14 Jul 2021; swimmingworldmagazine.com, 18 Jun 2021; kvoa.com, 16 Jun 2021)
FINDING BALANCE
He considered retiring from swimming after failing to make the US team for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. He decided to continue and says the birth of his daughter Skylar that year helped give him a new perspective on the sport. "If I have a bad practice I can go home and be a great dad. If Skylar is having a bad day, I can go to the pool and have a great practice. It's all about balance. It's the balance with family and training. If I keep everything in balance I will be back. I had such a good support system. My wife Annie has been there. I was very close to retiring. I started playing volleyball and I really started thinking about doing that. She gave me so much perspective." (swimmingworldmagazine.com, 12 Jun 2021; jwcdaily.com, 20 Apr 2018)
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Outside of sport he is involved in real estate, and in 2018 he admitted he was starting to think about life after swimming. "I may get a job in commercial real estate [after retiring], but I think I will always be involved in swimming, maybe as a coach. I have a lot I want to give back." In 2020, he also worked as a volunteer swimming coach at the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ, United States of America. (kvoa.com, 16 Jun 2021; azcentral.com, 30 May 2020; jwcdaily.com, 20 Apr 2018; nytimes.com, 23 Jul 2017; teamusa.org, 12 Jan 2017; tucson.com, 02 Jul 2020; LinkedIn profile, 01 Jan 2019)
DUTCH HERITAGE
He was born in the United States of America to parents from the Netherlands and is also eligible for Dutch citizenship. He chose to represent the United States of America because it was the more challenging option. "I sometimes like easy routes, but this is one challenge that I did want to undertake. I wanted it to mean something if I swam in the Olympics. I didn't want to just get handed a spot. A lot of people I've known will just try to represent a country they're barely related to. I don't think that's the true spirit of what the Olympics are all about. Because of what my parents did to get here and give me and my siblings what we have, it all means that much more to me. It's very special to all of us." (usaswimming.org, 19 Feb 2016; nytimes.com, 13 Jul 2008) |
Sport Specific Information |
Why this sport? |
His family was involved in water sports. His mother Anja has worked as a swimming coach and his father Ed played water polo. "The family car was always going to the pool. So it was either I got in the pool, or I sat in the hot, chlorinated stands." |
Further Personal Information |
Family |
Wife Annie, daughters Skylar [2016], Gracie [2019] |
Languages |
English |
Occupation |
Athlete, Coach, Real Estate Developer |
General Interest |
Sporting philosophy / motto |
"Try to focus on the solution, not the problem. Invest in your teammates as much as yourself, so you can celebrate their victories alongside them and find greater joy in the sport." (rhone.com, 01 Dec 2020) |
Memorable sporting achievement |
Competing at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. (jwcdaily.com, 20 Apr 2018) |
Most influential person in career |
High school coaches Lea and Erik Maurer. (swimmingworldmagazine.com, 29 Sep 2021) |
Hobbies |
Playing video games, volleyball, spikeball, basketball, ultimate frisbee, table football, table tennis, reading sci-fi books. (usaswimming.org, 01 Jan 2020; rhone.com, 01 Dec 2020) |
Hero / Idol |
US swimmers Aaron Peirsol and Josh Davis. (asapsports.com, 27 Jun 2012; digitaljournal.com, 25 Jun 2019) |
Awards and honours |
In 2017 he received the Perseverance Award at the USA Swimming Foundation's Golden Goggles Awards. (swimswam.com, 20 Nov 2017) |
Sport Specific Information |
Training Regime |
He trains at the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ, United States of America. He swims four hours per day, six days a week. |
General Interest |
Injuries |
In June 2007 he fractured his knee cap. (timedfinals.com, 08 Jul 2008) |
Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs |
"I find comfort in my routine, even the stretches I do right before I race remain the same. That routine calms my nerves and gives me confidence. I envision the perfect race right before. I go over the key aspects. Those mental notes change depending on how my stroke is feeling." (rhone.com, 01 Dec 2020) |
Olympic Games |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 1 |
2012 |
London, ENG |
100m Backstroke |
52.16 |
| 1 |
2012 |
London, ENG |
4 x 100m Medley Relay |
3:29.35 |
| 2 |
2012 |
London, ENG |
4 x 100m Freestyle Relay |
|
| 2 |
2008 |
Beijing, CHN |
100m Backstroke |
53.11 |
| 1 |
2008 |
Beijing, CHN |
4 x 100m Freestyle Relay |
|
| 1 |
2008 |
Beijing, CHN |
4 x 100m Medley Relay |
|
World Championships |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 5 |
2019 |
Gwangju, KOR |
100m Backstroke |
52.82 |
| 2 |
2019 |
Gwangju, KOR |
4 x 100m Medley Relay |
|
| 2 |
2019 |
Gwangju, KOR |
4 x 100m Medley Relay |
|
| 2 |
2017 |
Budapest, HUN |
100m Backstroke |
52.48 |
| 3 |
2017 |
Budapest, HUN |
50m Backstroke |
24.56 |
| 1 |
2017 |
Budapest, HUN |
4 x 100m Medley Relay |
3:38.56 |
| 1 |
2017 |
Budapest, HUN |
4 x 100m Medley Relay |
3:27.91 |
| 2 |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
50m Backstroke |
24.61 |
| 3 |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
100m Backstroke |
52.66 |
| Heats |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
4 x 100m Freestyle Relay |
3:16.01 |
| 1 |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
4 x 100m Medley Relay |
3:29.93 |
| 1 |
2013 |
Barcelona, ESP |
100m Backstroke |
52.93 |
| 2 |
2013 |
Barcelona, ESP |
50m Backstroke |
24.54 |
| Semifinal |
2013 |
Barcelona, ESP |
50m Butterfly |
23.35 |
| 8 |
2013 |
Barcelona, ESP |
4 x 100m Medley Relay |
DSQ |
| 7 |
2009 |
Rome, ITA |
100m Backstroke |
53.14 |
| Heat |
2009 |
Rome, ITA |
50m Backstroke |
25.13 |
| Heat |
2009 |
Rome, ITA |
50m Butterfly |
23.98 |
| 1 |
2009 |
Rome, ITA |
4 x 100m Freestyle Relay |
3:09.21 |
| 1 |
2009 |
Rome, ITA |
4 x 100m Medley Relay |
|
World Championships Short Course |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| Semifinal |
2018 |
Hangzhou, CHN |
50m Backstroke |
23.22 |
| 6 |
2018 |
Hangzhou, CHN |
100m Backstroke |
50.02 |
| 1 |
2018 |
Hangzhou, CHN |
4 x 100m Medley Relay |
|
| 1 |
2018 |
Hangzhou, CHN |
4 x 100m Freestyle Relay |
|
| 2 |
2018 |
Hangzhou, CHN |
4 x 50m Medley Relay |
|
| 3 |
2014 |
Doha, QAT |
100m Backstroke |
50.12 |
| 6 |
2014 |
Doha, QAT |
50m Backstroke |
23.32 |
| Semifinal |
2014 |
Doha, QAT |
50m Butterfly |
23.50 |
| 3 |
2014 |
Doha, QAT |
4 x 100m Freestyle Relay |
3:05.58 |
| 2 |
2014 |
Doha, QAT |
4 x 50m Freestyle Relay |
|
| 2 |
2014 |
Doha, QAT |
4 x 100m Medley Relay |
3:21.49 |
| 3 |
2014 |
Doha, QAT |
4 x 50m Medley Relay |
|
| 1 |
2014 |
Doha, QAT |
4 x 50m Freestyle Relay |
1:28.57 |
| 4 |
2014 |
Doha, QAT |
4 x 50m Medley Relay |
1:38.16 |
| 1 |
2012 |
Istanbul, TUR |
100m Backstroke |
49.89 |
| 2 |
2012 |
Istanbul, TUR |
50m Backstroke |
23.17 |
| 5 |
2012 |
Istanbul, TUR |
100m Freestyle |
47.05 |
| 1 |
2012 |
Istanbul, TUR |
4 x 100m Freestyle Relay |
3:06.40 |
| 1 |
2012 |
Istanbul, TUR |
4 x 100m Medley Relay |
3:21.03 |
| 7 |
2006 |
Shanghai, CHN |
100m Backstroke |
52.20 |
| 13 |
2006 |
Shanghai, CHN |
50m Butterfly |
23.92 |
| 12 |
2006 |
Shanghai, CHN |
50m Backstroke |
24.64 |
| 7 |
2006 |
Shanghai, CHN |
100m Individual Medley |
54.28 |
| 3 |
2006 |
Shanghai, CHN |
4 x 100m Freestyle Relay |
3:11.92 |
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