Sports
Grevers, Phelps Lead U.S. to More Gold
Lake Forest's Matt Grevers now has six Olympic medals to his name; three gold and three silver.
is golden again and he had company, Michael Phelps.
Grevers, who won an Olympic gold medal Monday in 100-meter backstroke, doubled his collection Saturday at Aquatics Center of the London Olympics.
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Swimming backstroke, Grevers did the opening backstroke leg of the men’s’ 4 x 100 medley relay. The American team, which had never lost this event, did not disappoint, coming home in a time of 3:29.35. The Americans easily outdistanced Japan, who was second in 3:31.26 in the final swimming event of the London Olympic Games.
The American team was the swimming version of the dream team with three gold medal winners and a bronze including Phelps, considered by many the greatest swimmer ever.
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The team included Grevers, who won the gold in the backstroke along with Brendan Hansen, who won bronze medal in the breaststroke, Phelps, who won his 17th career gold medal in the 100 butterfly Friday and anchor Nathan Adrian, the 100-meter freestyle champion.
Grevers got the Americans off to a terrific start. The Lake Forest High School alum arched his 6-8 frame into the water, cutting through it in 52.58 to put the Americans in front. Hansen lost the lead to Japan after his swim, but Phelps put the Americans ahead in the final 20 meters of his butterfly leg and Adrian brought home the gold for the Americans.
Grevers, along with Hansen, Phelps and Adrian, did not swim in the semifinals. That group included Nick Thoman, Eric Shanteau, Tyler McGill and Cullen Jones. That group set the table Friday when they posted the fastest qualifying time in the preliminaries in 3:33.34.
Grevers now comes back home with two gold medals and a silver medal for being part of the men’s 4 x 100 relay team. Coupled with his haul in the 2008 Beijing games, he now has six Olympic medals, four gold and two silver.
The relay was also the last event for Phelps before retirement from Olympic competition. He finished his career with a record 22 medals, including 18 gold.
For complete Patch Olympic Coverage, check here.
