| 8/7/2009 3:00:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| Jeff Geyman with the medals and ribbons he won at the National Senior Games in Palo Alto, Calif. (Photo courtesy Marla Calico) |
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Former Madisonian Geyman swims to gold at Senior Games
Elation soon overshadowed by tragedy involving brother
David Campbell
Courier Sportswriter
For about three hours on Tuesday, Jeff Geyman was on top of the world. The 53-year-old former Madisonian had just won one event and finished third in another in the swimming portion of the National Senior Games in Palo Alto, Calif.
Basking in the glow, Geyman called home to Madison to tell his mother, Kathryn, how he had done. What she had to tell him in response stopped his world.
At roughly the same time Geyman was winning the 500-yard freestyle and finishing third in the 200 free, his brother, Phillip, was being swept away by the rain-swollen Ohio River during Tuesday's deluge. As of Thursday night, Phillip's body had yet to be recovered and the news overshadowed anything that Jeff had accomplished in California.
"My wife and I took a hike up into the hills overlooking Stanford University where the games were held and about three hours after the event I called my Mother to tell her about the race and bronze medal," Jeff Geyman recalled Wednesday. "I could tell she was very upset and that was when she told me that they had been searching for Phill for about two hours.
"One of the fondest memories that I have of Phill is of a warm summer morning and we were going to swimming lessons together," Geyman added. "We hitchhiked down from the hilltop to Crystal Beach swimming pool. He will be greatly missed."
It's fitting that one of Jeff Geyman's fondest memories about his brother involves swimming. Ever since he was a kid, Jeff has spent his days in the water.
Geyman still holds the school record in the 500 free at Madison which he set in 1974. Competing for coach Bert Zimmerman, Geyman spent three years swimming distance events for the Cubs.
He eventually moved to Missouri and along the way, he spent less and less time in the pool. It wasn't until July 2007 that Geyman hopped back into the water for the simplest of reasons.
"I returned to swimming just to lose a few pounds as I was a portly 228," Geyman said. "I now weigh about 160."
It didn't take long for him to rediscover the old talent and in March 2008, Geyman began training for competition. He qualified for the Senior Nationals at the Missouri State Games and has since competed in Missouri and Indianapolis in USA Swimming, Senior Games and United States Masters Swimming events.
Wanting to take his game to the next level, Geyman hired a personal trainer in August of 2008 and worked with her for about five months before scheduling problems ended the workouts. He trained himself for a while but hurt both shoulders to the point that massage therapy was needed.
The injury proved to be a blessing in disguise. The massage therapist he started working with two months ago was not only a qualified trainer, but had also been a world-class triathlete. While working as the masseuse for Drury University, the school won back-to-back NCAA Division II swimming and diving championships in both men's and women's swimming.
"She said that she could train me through the injury and at least keep me in the games," Geyman said. "Luckily, I said you've got the job, she kept her word and I did the work and here it is!"
In Palo Alto, Geyman won the 500 free in 6:06.25 and was third in the 200 free in 2:12.80 and earned medals in both events for his efforts. He was also fourth in the 100-yard freestyle and seventh in the 100-yard individual medley.
Geyman and his wife, Marla Calico, are now back home in Missouri, cutting short a planned vacation/celebration in the San Francisco area because of his brother's death. When a memorial service is scheduled, they plan on returning to Madison.
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