Olympian Matt Gribble Dies in Auto Accident -- March 24, 2004

MIAMI, Fla., March 23. MATT Gribble, an Olympian and former world record-holder in the 100 meter was killed in an auto accident in Miami on Sunday. He was 41.

Gribble, who swam collegiately for the University of Miami, was a member of both the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team that boycotted the Games in Moscow and the 1984 U.S. Olympic Team in Los Angeles.

At the 1982 Guayaquil World Championships, Gribble won two gold medals: the 100 meter butterfly (53.88) and as a member of the USA's winning 400 meter medley relay team.

The following year, he won the 100 meter butterfly at the US Nationals in a world record time of 53.44. That August, at the 1983 Pan American Games in Caracas, Venezuela, he teamed with Rick Carey (back), Steve Lundquist (breast) and Rowdy Gaines (free) to set a world record in the 400 meter medley relay in 3:40.22. It stands as the only time in swimming history when each member of a world record-setting medley relay held the 100 meter world record in his stroke.

--Kurt Weinants