Matt Grevers
A gentle giant of the pool whose explosive starts and relentless underwater kicks revolutionized backstroke racing and delivered Olympic glory.
Born 1985 (age 41)·American swimmer·Birthday: March 26·Millennials
Biography
At six feet eight inches tall, Matt Grevers was a physical marvel in the water, but it was his technical mastery that made him an Olympic champion. Nicknamed 'The Baltimore Bullet,' he combined his extraordinary wingspan with a powerful underwater dolphin kick that often left competitors trailing in his wake from the very start. His breakout moment came at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he swam a crucial leg on two gold-medal-winning relay teams. By the 2012 London Games, he was the undisputed king, seizing individual gold in the 100-meter backstroke with a dominant performance. Beyond his six Olympic medals, Grevers was a mainstay on U.S. World Championship teams, his consistency and sportsmanship making him a beloved figure in the swimming community long after he stepped off the blocks.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Matt was born in 1985, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Matt Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Matt's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2003Could vote
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Turned 21
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2015Turned 30
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the individual Olympic gold medal in the 100-meter backstroke at the 2012 London Games.
- Earned six Olympic medals in total across the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics.
- Set the world record in the 100-meter backstroke (long course) in 2009, a time that stood for nearly three years.
- Anchored the gold-medal-winning U.S. 4x100 meter medley relay team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Did You Know?
He is 6'8" tall, with a wingspan even longer than his height, giving him a tremendous advantage in the water.
He met his wife, fellow Olympic swimmer Annie Chandler, while they were both competing for the University of Arizona.
He proposed to Chandler on the medal podium at the 2013 U.S. National Championships.
He is an avid photographer and often documented his travels to swim meets with his camera.
“I just tried to stay as long underwater as I could, and when I came up, I saw I was ahead.”
