Aug. 5, 2008

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Three former Northwestern student-athletes -- two swimmers and one wrestler -- are set to participate in Opening Ceremonies Aug. 8 at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games before representing their countries in competition.

2007 graduates Matt Grevers and Mike Alexandrov will swim at the Games, with Grevers representing the United States and Alexandrov swimming for his native Bulgaria. These Olympics mark the second for Alexandrov, who also competed for Bulgaria in Athens in 2004 prior to his freshman year at NU.

Grevers will swim the 100-meter backstroke and is a member of the freestyle relay group for the U.S. He is favored to reach the medal stand in the backstroke, with the finals of that event taking place Monday night, Aug. 11.

Alexandrov, who set the current NCAA record in the 100-yard breaststroke as a senior at NU, will compete in the 100-meter breast, 200-meter breast and 200-meter individual medley in Beijing.

While in Evanston, the pair of classmates combined to win five national championships for Northwestern, leading the Wildcats to four-straight top-11 national finishes as a team.

2008 Northwestern swimming graduate Bruno Barbic is in Beijing as well, serving as an alternate for the Croatian contingent.

Former wrestler Larry Langowski will represent Mexico, his mother's native country. He was a three-year member of NU's team at heavyweight. Wrestling competition takes place Aug. 12-21 at the Games.

Also of note is U.S. rower Jamie Schroeder, who attended Northwestern for a year before transferring to Stanford to pursue his sport. The Beijing Olympics mark his second trip to the Games.