Sullivan, Ill. -     Five Olney swimmers had the opportunity to meet Olympic gold medalist Matt Grevers October 4 in Sullivan.

Elyse Eagleson, Hannah Gillis, Morgan Gillis, Trey Nosek and Owen Powell attended the Swim Champions Fitter and Faster Tour clinic at the Sullivan Civic Center, which houses a 12-lane, 25-meter pool.

Around 70 swimmers from Central and Southern Illinois as well as Indiana and Missouri participated.

The 24-year-old Grevers won two gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing as a member of the 4 x 100-meter freestyle relay and 4 x 100-meter medley relay teams.

He also took home a silver medal in the 100-meter backstroke with a time of 53.11, 0.57 seconds behind the winner and world record holder Aaron Peirsol.

“The kids got to hold his medals and Matt raced every swimmer (at the clinic),” Olney Tigersharks head coach Matt Powell said. “It was a pretty cool experience.”

Grevers, a native of Lake Forest, earned a swimming scholarship to Northwestern University in Evanston, where he graduated from in 2007. He currently resides in Tucson, Ariz., and is training for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

In addition to a photo and autograph session, Grevers shared his experiences from the Beijing Olympics during a question-and-answer session for the swimmers and their parents. He also gave instruction on stroke technique and discussed the value of setting goals and realizing potential as an athlete.

“To bring a swimmer of that caliber to Central Illinois is a tribute to Jason Drury (coach of the Sullivan Blue Dolphins),” Powell said. “He was key in getting it organized and our kids really enjoyed it.”