When Matt Grevers jumped into the pool prior to this last weekend's 100-meter backstroke at the Missouri Grand Prix, he had diamond on his mind, not gold.

The two-time gold medalist had concocted an elaborate plan to propose to his longtime girlfriend, fellow national-team swimmer Annie Chandler, atop the medal stand. All he had to do was get there.

Grevers ended up winning the race. And when organizers asked Chandler to present the medals to the three top finishers, she didn't suspect anything out of the ordinary. When Grevers dropped to a knee, Chandler's reaction says it all:

Courtesy USASwimming.org

"I've just been searching for a unique way to pop the question," Grevers told reporters. "My whole family is here and I figured it would be a perfect opportunity and a unique situation."

Originally, Grevers had hoped to propose while Chandler was on the medal stand. A fifth-place performance in Friday's 100 breaststroke scuttled those plans. He didn't want to do it on Sunday, so his plans were all riding on Saturday's backstroke race.

"I took [the race] out a little fast because my heart was racing the whole time," he said. "If I didn't get first it wouldn't have worked out so well."

Grevers' brother, Andy, is an assistant swim coach at the University of Missouri (where the event was held) and played a key role in the proposal. He held the ring during the race and surreptitiously passed it to his brother afterward.

The couple didn't talk about potential wedding dates, though late July probably won't be in the cards. The 2012 London Olympics begin on the 27th of that month. Grevers and Chandler hope they'll both be competing.

Other popular content on Yahoo! network:
• LeBron James reportedly threatens to beat up heckling fan
• 'White Boy' Landon Clement becomes surprising face of N.C. Central basketball
• Y! Games: Time for 'Tony Hawk's Pro Skater' video game to retire
• Y! News: Film reveals Bill Clinton struggled to deal with Monica Lewinsky affair

VANCOUVER, B.C.—At the start of the CONCACAF women's soccer Olympic qualifying tournament, there was plenty of discussion that the event could be a breakthrough moment for 22-year-old forward Alex Morgan. The tournament as a whole didn't really happen that way, but Sunday's final certainly did: Morgan scored two goals, including a crucial fourth-minute marker that took the hometown crowd out of it, and set up two more to lead the Americans to a 4-0 win over Canada.

It may have been mostly pride that was on the line for the teams, as they'd both already qualified for this summer's Olympics, but given the depth of these squads, Sunday's match also served as an opportunity for players to make their case for increased roles going forward. Morgan's performance was the most impressive of the night, and it will undoubtedly help her cause as the U.S. heads onwards and upwards towards London.

Read More »

VANCOUVER, B.C.—Through the first three matches of Olympic qualifying, arguably the biggest American star off the pitch had been primarily an afterthought on it; U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo, of Dancing With The Stars and nude ESPN photo shoots fame, had played reasonably well and recorded three clean sheets, but she hadn't been particularly tested. That changed in Friday's crucial semifinal, as Solo had her top game of the tournament precisely when the U.S. required it, making several critical saves to help the Americans to a 3-0 victory over Costa Rica and a berth in the 2012 London Olympics. American coach Pia Sundhage said afterwards that Solo's world-class play gave the U.S. a crucial edge.

"We have Hope Solo," Sundhage said. "No other country has Hope Solo."

Read More »

VANCOUVER, B.C.—Before the CONCACAF women's soccer Olympic qualifying tournament even began, the U.S. team was considered a heavy favorite to pick up one of the two London 2012 berths at stake, but there were a few obstacles in their path. The Americans have obliterated everything in their way thus far, though, putting up 14-0, 13-0 and 4-0 wins over the Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Mexico respectively, finishing at the top of their group and surviving the loss of starting right back Ali Krieger to injury. Now, only one final roadblock remains: Costa Rica, who the U.S. will meet Friday night (8 p.m. Eastern, CONCACAF.com). The winner clinches a trip to London this summer, while the loser's Olympic dreams end here.

Read More »

VANCOUVER, B.C.—The U.S. women's soccer team's run to the semifinals of the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament has been led by a series of unlikely heroines, but the most remarkable may be a player who isn't even in town. Right back Ali Krieger was seriously hurt in the Americans' first game against the Dominican Republic, tearing both her ACL and MCL, and she may be out even through the Olympics themselves. Despite flying home Monday to have surgery, though, she was still very much in the minds of the remaining U.S. players in Tuesday's 4-0 win over Mexico. Midfielder Carli Lloyd, who led the Americans with a hat trick Tuesday, said she was inspired by Krieger.

"I dedicate that win to her, I dedicate my hat trick to her," Lloyd said. "It's unfortunate she couldn't be with us."

The absence of Krieger, a reliable wingback who started every U.S. game in the 2011 World Cup, has hit the whole team hard. The Americans have a great deal of depth and have dominated every game they've played, so losing Krieger to injury hasn't doomed them, but she's still very much in the minds of the team. On Tuesday night, they wrote "Liebe" (German for "love") on their arms to honor her, as Krieger has a "Liebe" tattoo. U.S. striker Abby Wambach said afterwards the idea came from third goalkeeper Jill Loyden, and it inspired the team.

Read More »

VANCOUVER, B.C.—A recurring theme of the U.S. women's soccer team's experience at the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament thus far has been unlikely heroines stepping up to provide the scoring, including Amy Rodriguez's five-goal outburst against the Dominican Republic and Sydney Leroux's five goals against Guatemala. It was a similar story that played out again Tuesday night at B.C. Place, with midfielder Carli Lloyd notching a hat trick that proved crucial in the Americans' 4-0 win over Mexico. Lloyd's presence was crucial to the U.S. victory Tuesday, but she said afterwards having so many different players step up over the course of this tournament illustrates how much talent the Americans have.

"We have a tremendous amount of depth," Lloyd said. "It's great. This is the time to get young players out on the field, get experience, gain confidence. That's huge for our team and I think it's going to be a good year for us."

Lloyd, who now has five goals in this tournament, said she and her teammates were motivated by the loss they suffered against Mexico at the end of 2010 in World Cup qualifying.

"It was redemption for us," she said. "We came out strong and we knew we had to get it done."

Read More »

VANCOUVER, B.C.—Heading into their final group-stage game of the CONCACAF women's soccer Olympic qualifying tournament Tuesday, there are at least two motivations in play for the American team. The first is simple and intrinsic: a draw or a victory against Mexico would give the U.S. top spot in Group B and a (theoretically) easier matchup in the semifinals against whichever of Canada or Costa Rica finishes second in Group A. The second goal has less to do with this particular tournament, but it may be preeminent in the Americans' minds: getting revenge on Mexico.

Read More »

VANCOUVER, B.C. —It was a homecoming to remember for 21-year-old Sydney Leroux Sunday. Leroux, who was born and raised in nearby Surrey, B.C., came on for Lauren Cheney at halftime of the American women's 13-0 win over Guatemala and made an instant impact, scoring a hat trick in her first 12 minutes of play in this tournament. Leroux wasn't done there, as she added two more before the end of the game to tie teammate Amy Rodriguez's recently-set CONCACAF Olympic qualifying finals record for goals in a single match. Her homecoming wasn't universally well-received, though, as she was booed by portions of the crowd when she was introduced, and there were later chants of "Judas" after her goals.

Leroux said despite the negative reception from some quarters, playing a game near her former home was incredibly special to her.

"It's so important to play in front of my mom, my family, my friends," she said.

Read More »

VANCOUVER, B.C.—Few soccer players ever score five goals in a single match, but Amy Rodriguez did it in 30 minutes Friday. Coming on at halftime for Tobin Heath, Rodriguez dominated right from the start, scoring her first goal just 57 seconds into the half off a feed from Lauren Cheney and quickly adding four more as part of the U.S. team's 14-0 thumping of the Dominican Republic. For Rodriguez, who isn't usually praised for her scoring touch (she has just five career goals in two FIFA U20 World Cups, one World Cup and one Olympic tournament) and who was held off the scoresheet in last summer's World Cup, it was a remarkable showing, and a suggestion that she's an important part of this team alongside more well-known names like Abby Wambach, Heather O'Reilly and Alex Morgan.

Rodriguez said afterwards this was a unique experience.

[ Slideshow: Check out photos from the USA's 14-0 win ]

"It's never happened to me before," she said. "I couldn't have asked for more."

Read More »

VANCOUVER, B.C.—The American roster for the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament is full of recognizable names like Hope Solo, Heather Mitts, Shannon Boxx and Abby Wambach, players who have excelled on the field and received plenty of attention off it. One of the names that may be most recognizable to casual fans isn't of a starter, though. Instead, Alex Morgan, she of the over 316,000 Twitter followers, crucial goals, visits to Entourage premieres and marriage proposals, is likely to again be coming off the bench. Will this be the tournament where Morgan can become a legitimate top player for the U.S., or is she more likely to remain an exceptionally famous spare part?

Read More »