:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/8010522/20120723_lbm_usa_021.jpg)
It's time for Northwestern alum Matt Grevers to take the pool in his only attempt at an individual medal, as he'll swim this afternoon in the 100m backstroke, where he's favored to win gold and possibly set a world record.
Grevers was first in both the prelims and the semis, and it's not really clear there's anybody who can compete with him. The final heat will be on at 1:58 p.m. on NBCOlympics.com, or you can wait until like 10:30 tonight to watch it on tape delay. But you're at work, right? Just put it on mute.
Grevers got a silver medal for his performance in the 4x100m freestyle yesterday, which is actually kinda controversial. In case you haven't heard, the United States lost the finals to France on the last 50m of a leg by half-Cuban sensation Ryan Lochte. Grevers, who swam in the heats and thus was able to earn a medal should the US win one, swam a split of 47.54 seconds in his heat, which was the fastest of any American in the heat. That was faster than Lochte (47.74) by .2 seconds and faster than America's first racer, Nathan Adrian (47.89 seconds) by .35 seconds. Obviously, nobody would've suggested Grevers swim ahead of Lochte, and Grevers had just swam his semi in the 100m backstroke. But some wonder if America could've won gold in the event had Grevers raced a leg instead of one of the four who eventually did. But thems' the breaks.
And more importantly, Grevers has another chance to win gold on his own. Right now! Cool, huh! Comment along here, and best of luck to Matt. Go Cats and all.