Olympic gold medalist swims his way to victory and engagement : News : ConnectMidMissouri.com

Olympic gold medalist swims his way to victory and engagement

Posted: 02.14.2012 at 3:58 PM

Matt Grevers, left, celebrates with his girlfriend and fellow swimmer, Annie Chandler, right, after winning the 100-meter backstroke at the Missouri Grand Prix swim meet, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012, in Columbia, Mo. Grevers also proposed to Chandler on the podium. / Associated Press

Seeing a proposal at a sporting event is nothing new. An athlete proposing to another athlete after winning a race is something alltogether new for most spectators.

Saturday was a special day for both those watching the Missouri Grand Prix and the athletes involved. After 2008 Olympic gold medalist Matt Grevers won the 100m backstroke, his girlfriend, swimmer Annie Chandler, was asked to hand out the medals. Then, Grevers brother, an assistant coach at Missouri, asked Annie to step up onto the podium for a photo opportunity.

What she got was a marriage proposal.

The story has been picked up by national and international media outlets, and one writer for USA swimming called the pair the William and Kate of swimming with fan support and love.

Writer, and personal friend of the couple, Mike Gustafson wrote the pair is putting wedding plans on hold until after the 2012 Olympic Trials.

Grevers won the 2008 Olympic Gold Medal for the 100m backstroke. Winning Saturday's race was a necessity to be able to pull off the surprise medal-stand marriage proposal.

The couple trains in Tucson, Ariz. Grevers moved there after winning for NCAA titles at Northwestern along with two gold medals and a silver in the 2008 olympics. Chandler is a 2010 Arizona graduate.

(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)

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