Olympix hopeful John Graves

By the very nature of his sport, John Graves surveys the past.

As a world-class rower, Graves’ head faces the stern, or the back o the boat for each race.

EXPECT THE OLYMPICS EVERY FOURYEARS -- BUT THE CORONAVIRUSDELAYED THE TOKYO GAMES -- ANDCOUNTLESS DREAMS ALONG WITHTHEM.KEENAN SINGLETON HAS THESTORY OF ONE LOCAL ATHLETEWHO'S JUST A FEW STROKES AWAY.BY THE VERY NATURE OF HISSPORT, JOHN GRAVES SURVEYS THEPAST.

AS A WORLD-CLASS ROWER,GRAVES HEAD FACES THE STERN,OR THE BACK OF THE BOAT FOREACH RACE.

2020 WAS DIFFERENT.GRAVES WAS READY TO SPINTOWARD THE FUTURE, TO BOW OUTOF THE SPORT.

THE CORONAVIRUSCAPSIZED THOSE PLANS."EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN RIGHT ASWE GOT TO SARASOTA.

IT BEINGSO CLOSE AND THEN HAVING ITMOVE.

IT WAS A VERYCHALLENGING MENTAL ANDEMOTIONAL PROCESS.

THECINCINNATI COUNTRY DAY GRADWASN'T SURE HE HAD THEENDURANCE FOR ANOTHER YEAR OFTRAINING.

"ABSOLUTELYCONSIDERED HANGING IT UP."HEFOUND HIMSELF ANSWERING THECALL ONCE AGAIN IN SARASOTA INFEBURARY.

HE WAS SOLO IN THEMEN'S SINGLE SCULL FINALS BUTHE WASN'T ALONE."ON THEPICTURE I BELIEVE YOU SEE ONEOF HIS OLDER BROTHERS RUNNINGALONG SIDE HIM ON THE RACECOURSE."HIS BROTHER PETER WASTHERE, AS HE'D BEEN FOUR YEARSBEFORE."IN RETROSPECT, IT FELTPOETIC TO BE THERE AND I'MHAPPY I WAS THERE WITH HIM""IT'S GOING TO BE JOHN GRAVESHANGING ON AT THE FINISH.

ASYOU CAN SEE THE EMOTIONSCOMING OUT OF THAT YELLOWBOAT."THEY SHARED THAT MOMENTOF TRIUMPH AFTER AGONIZINGABOUT A SINGLE MOMENT FROM2016."THE WORLD ROWINGFEDERATINON HAS BANNED RUSSIAFROM THE RIO OLYMPICS."PETERAND JOHN MADE UP HALF OF A4-MAN TEAM THAT JUST MISSEDTHE RIO GAMES BY .7 SECONDS."THAT'S BEEN FRESH IN MY MINDSINCE THAT HAPPENED."AFTERWINNING IN SARASOTA, GRAVES ISHEADED BACK TO SWITZERLAND.

IFHE FINISHES IN THE TOP TWO,HE'LL GET TO PUT ALL THEDISAPPOINTMENT BEHIND HIM.

ATRIP TO TOKYO GAMES WOULDAWAIT."HEY, I'M NOT OVER IT.THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.(LAUGHTER)."KEENAN SINGLETON,WCPO 9SPORTS