Former Gophers swimmer David Plummer takes bronze in 100 backstroke in Rio

RIO DE JANEIRO – David Plummer knew the math was not in his favor. After missing the 2012 Olympic team by .12 of a second, the former Gophers swimmer recognized he would be 30 years old by the time his next chance came around.

On a drive around the country with his dog, he pondered whether he could commit to another four years of chasing something that might never happen. The faith he had in his abilities left him thinking it would be harder to walk away from his Olympic quest than to continue. "I felt like I had to do it," Plummer said. "I wasn't ready to be done."

Monday, he finally got the prize he had pursued for most of his adult life. Plummer, of Minneapolis, earned the bronze medal in the 100-meter backstroke at the Rio Games, combining with gold medalist Ryan Murphy to give the U.S. men two medals in that event for the third consecutive Summer Games. Murphy, 21, touched the wall in an Olympic-record time of 51.97 seconds, with Xu Jiayu of China earning silver in 52.31 and Plummer clocking 52.40.

Plummer edged world champion Mitch Larkin of Australia by .03 seconds and became the first Gophers men's swimmer to win an Olympic medal for the U.S. Third at the turn, he maintained his position through the final 50 meters, while Murphy surged from fourth to first. Murphy's victory was the sixth in a row by an American in the men's 100 back at the Summer Games.

As Plummer stepped onto the victory podium, he waved and blew kisses to his wife, Erin, and mother, Kathy, who were among several clusters of Americans deliriously waving flags at Olympic Aquatics Stadium. They continued to cheer him and Murphy as they took a leisurely walk around the pool deck to pose for photographers. Given how long it took Plummer to get there, he wasn't going to rush the moment.

"It's been a long road, a long, hard road," Plummer said. "To be here and get two Americans on the podium, I'm really, really excited.

"I feel like I didn't have the race I was really looking for. But I really enjoyed going through that. I loved every minute of it."

At age 30, Plummer was the oldest first-time Olympian on the U.S. men's swim team since 1904. He also was the first Gophers swimmer to make the U.S. Olympic team in 52 years. At the 1964 Tokyo Games, Virgil Luken and Walt Richardson swam in the preliminary heats for the winning U.S. 4x100 medley relay team but were not awarded medals.

Murphy and Plummer were the top two qualifiers, separated by only .01 in Sunday's semifinals. Murphy, who has three NCAA titles in the 100-yard back, also topped Plummer at the Olympic trials in June, though Plummer swam a personal-best 52.12 in the semifinals. That was the fastest time of the year going into Rio.

In the Olympic final, Plummer said he felt he could improve on his time from Sunday night. He predicted everyone would go out quickly, and the race would be won by the swimmer who could squeeze the most out of his body over the final 25 meters.

Plummer covered the first 50 meters in 25.35 seconds. He came home in 27.05 to maintain his position, while Murphy blazed through the final 50 in 26.58. Murphy's time broke the Olympic record of 52.16 held by fellow American Matt Grevers, but it just missed the world record of 51.94 set by American Aaron Peirsol in 2009.

"I don't even feel tired, because I'm so excited," said Murphy, who swims for the University of California. "This means everything to me. I've been swimming for 16 years, and to have it come to this is just a dream come true."

For Plummer, it took much longer. He felt he was on the verge of a breakthrough before the 2015 world championships but got sick just before they started, finishing eighth in the 50 back and ninth in the 100 back.

Coach Gideon Louw said Plummer "got a little bit braver" in his training last fall, and his willingness to push his limits got him in the best shape of his life. At the Olympics, he gained new fans who admired his persistence. Actor and comedian Mindy Kaling tweeted at him Monday, telling him he was "the coolest."

Plummer said after the race that he can't wait to get home to his two young sons, and he's excited to share his victory with the Wayzata boys' swimming team he coaches.

"It was really tough," Plummer said of his journey. "To try to look ahead to 30 and tell yourself you're still going to have it is really hard. But it was absolutely worth it."