The Pan American Games in Santiago was one of the few swimming events before the Olympic games where the open water swimmers received a sangfroid occasion to rise above each other. Brennan Gravley couldn’t miss the opportunity to pose his best threat. He defeated the Argentinian long-distance swimming shot, Franco Cassini. The same Cassini overpowered Brennan Gravley by a great length in Fukuoka. However, the 2024 Olympics year didn’t start with the same hope. 

It took Brennan Gravley certain minutes to post his retirement announcement on IG. But the remembrance might stay for a long time to cherish the best US Olympic hope in 10k open water swimming. 

Brennan Gravley retires, leaving the Olympics swimming possibility at bay 

On January 5, Brennan Gravley put a seal on the possibility that was brewing for the last few weeks. Keeping on that, the 21-year-old open-water swimmer posted on his IG account,” My friends and family have known this for a bit, but today I am officially retired from swimming.” With that, Brennan didn’t miss out on thanking his known ones who kept him lowering the constraints of open water swimming challenges. The Florida Gator treated them by adding, “I want to thank everyone that has been a part of this chapter of my life. It was, and always will be, YOU people in this incredible sport that made me so happy to be at the pool each and every day.” That was enough to put an end to the swimming career of a prodigy who saw continued success at the college level. 

From 2021 to 2023, Brennan Gravley received the SEC Academic Honor Roll in a row. Even in his senior years, Brennan’s 400m IM clocking at the Auburn Invitational tempted swimming communities to his participation in the Olympics trial. So when he came into the Pan American Games pool, the expectation was bigger. 

The chances when Florian Wellbrock was rolling 

The 2023 season started on an ultimate note for Brennan Gravley. At the US Open Water National Championships, he bagged the silver medal in the 10k Open water swimming. His brother, Dylan, followed him in the next position. However, his Olympics possibility received a stumble when Brennan had to be satisfied with the 30th position in Fukuoka. Florian Wellbrock reigned in the water there. That was a serious blow to his chance as the USA counterpart in female, Katie Grimes, won the bronze there. 

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However, Brennan Gravley put his best performance in the Pan American Games later that year with a gold medal in 10k open water. Since then, the swimmer didn’t rise to the occasion much, staying at the sideline on consecutive chances. Now, just days after Florian Wellbrock earned the season-best title in the open water swimming, Brennan invited a sad day for fans.

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