July 30, 2012

LONDON – Tucson resident Matt Grevers took gold and former Arizona All-American Nick Thoman won silver in the men’s 100m backstroke at the London Olympics on Monday.

Grevers, who broke an Olympic record with a time of 52.16 second, earned his fifth career Olympic medal. Grevers broke the previous Olympic record set by American Aaron Peirsol in 2008. Before Monday, he had two gold and one silver as a member of relays (including Sunday night's 4x100-meter freestyle relay) and a silver medal in the 100 backstroke from Beijing. Grevers has trained at UA’s Hillenbrand Aquatic Center since 2008.

Thoman earned the silver medal after finishing with a time of 52.92. A five-time All-American, Thoman was a part of the Arizona 2006 National Championship winning 400m medley relay team.

Thoman's effort means that University of Arizona athletes have won at least one medal in every Olympiad dating back to 1968.

For complete results and continued coverage of Arizona swimming and diving, visit ArizonaWildcats.com.

Matt Grevers, Men's Swimming (USA)
A swimming standout who has trained at the UA's Hillenbrand Aquatic Center since 2008, Grevers is making his second Olympic appearance. He won three medals at the 2008 Beijing Games - two golds as part of the 4x100-meter freestyle relay and the 4x100-meter medley relay and a sliver in the 100-meter backstroke. He's a veteran of international swimming, having claimed 13 medals (5 gold, 5 silver, 3 bronze) in major international competition. Grevers clocked the second fastest time in history (52.08) in the 100-meter backstroke at the 2012 Olympic Trials.

Nick Thoman, Men's Swimming (USA)
Qualified for the 2012 Olympic team by finishing second in the 100m back. Thoman won a gold medal as part of the 400m medley relay at the 2011 FINA World Championships; he also finished fourth in the 100m back and sixth in the 50m back. He took second in the 100m back and third in the 200m back at the 2011 ConocoPhillips National Championships, helped take home the gold in the 400m medley relay (WR) at the 2010 FINA Short Course World Championships, earned the bronze medal in the 50m back at the 2010 MOO Pan Pacific Championships, set the 100 SCM backstroke world record at the 2009 Duel in the Pool, won gold in the 100m back at the 2008 U.S. Open, won silver as part of the men's 400m medley relay at the 2007 World University Games and placed 18th in the 100m back at the 2004 Olympic Trials.