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Parents pave path for Olympian offspring

By Eleanor Bailey 7 min read
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Jeff and Kristin Matheny pose in front of a yard sign congratulating their son, Josh, on making the United States Swim Team that will compete in the Summer Olympics set to begin July 26 in Paris.

When Kristin and Jeff Matheny were asked about the sacrifices they made to help their son, Josh, earn a roster spot on the U.S. Swimming Team that will compete in the Summer Olympic Games, the Upper St. Clair couple looked at each other and laughed.

“Honestly, I love swimming,” Kristin said. “I am the biggest geek. I will go to every session and watch the kids.”

“She knows every time and every swimmer. More than Josh,” Jeff added. “It’s a passion. Really there was no sacrifice. We are both so excited.”

Kristin always had an affinity for swimming. She excelled at North Hills High School, even holding the 100-yard breaststroke record for a time.

“Oh, my gosh, not even near Josh,” she said. “I loved swimming but wasn’t good enough to even contemplate being at his level.”

After competing at Bowdoin College, where she majored in economics and history, Kristin earned an MBA from Case-Western, but the 55-year-old did not return to the sport until she joined the Mt. Lebanon Aqua Club’s masters program in 2012.

While Jeff said he did not foresee Kristin as a “stay-at-home mom” when they wed 31 years ago, they agreed the family was “fortunate” she fulfilled that role.

“When I had the kids, I had no desire to be in that corporate world,” Kristin said. “As a management consultant, I was required to do a lot of travel. That did not translate well into parenthood.”

In addition to Josh, the couple also reared two successful daughters. Both were also swimmers.

Meghan, 26, is following in her father’s footsteps, who is an orthopedic surgeon in the Allegheny Health Network. Meghan just completed her second year of medical school at Penn State.

Abby, 24, earned a Fulbright Scholarship and traveled to Peru, into a town only accessible by water, to study the impact of microplastics on the Amazon River. She is working toward a doctorate in environmental engineering from the University of Michigan.

As Josh continued to win and gain fame, Meghan and Abby supported him. They alternated attending many of his high-level competitions when their schedules permitted. Both were headed to Paris for the Olympics with their parents.

“There was never much jealousy between (the sisters) and Josh,” Jeff said. “They are successful in their own right.”

Kristin said she told each of the children that they all had their gifts and strengths, and that Josh’s happened to be swimming.

Growing up, Josh did many things, including racing with noodles at pool parties. In addition to swimming, he competed in lacrosse. He even emulated his father, playing ice hockey.

Jeff played hockey at North Hills High School, where he was named a Pittsburgh Penguins Scholar Athlete, and at Colorado College, gaining his undergraduate degree, he played club hockey.

Jeff coached Josh when he played in the Mt. Lebanon Hockey Association, but the only traveling they did together related to ski trips. While they enjoyed the family getaway at Seven Springs, they also favored runs at Vail, Big Sky, Steamboat or Park City.

“He was beating me,” Jeff marveled. “He was so fast.”

“Josh was just a good athlete. He picked things up quickly,” Kristin said.

Jeff swims at least twice a week because he is a triathlete. He ranks in the top 15% in his age group. In 2015, he completed his first Ironman in Maryland.

A veteran of many marathons, including Boston multiple times with his wife, Jeff and Kristin are preparing to participate in a biathlon event. Combined they will traverse 13 miles, 11 on foot and two in the water, while tethered together.

“I guess that’s where Josh gets it,” they said of Josh’s competitiveness.

As he achieved records, Josh’s interest in his other extracurricular activities waned. Before he entered high school, his parents and coaches realized he had the potential to make the Olympics.

“As good as he was at the other sports, he wasn’t as good as he was at swimming,” said Jeff.

“At that point, he was winning zone meets and swimming really, really fast and placing among the top kids in the breaststroke,” added Kristin. “He was a natural. It came so easily to him. So we all agreed this is something that could take him far.”

Josh devoted himself to his dream. No one had to wake him for his early morning workouts nor entice him to attend his weightlifting sessions. Josh never kept his chauffeurs – his mother or his sister once she learned to drive – waiting.

“He was always ready to go, and no matter how tired he was or how challenging he knew a practice would be, he always went,” Kristin said. “Josh is a very, very focused kid. In what he’s interested in.”

“He’s focused and disciplined,” Jeff agreed. “Josh knew that achieving goals took discipline. He knew that you don’t get there if you don’t show up.”

Josh also knew that he would achieve his objectives at Indiana University in Bloomington rather than accepting a scholarship offer from Stanford. IU has produced 121 Olympic medalists. There have been 60 gold medalists, most notably Mark Spitz and Josh’s fellow teammate Lily King.

“He’s a Hoosier. Josh loves everything there except, of course, the football team because we’re Penn State fans,” Jeff said.

While becoming empty-nesters was a challenge, Josh’s parents said IU was the right step at the right time.

“Josh was ready to go and train with a collegiate team.” they said. “We knew we were sending him to a place where he would have a lot of opportunities and if he could take advantage of them, then he could go far. If he stayed at home, he might not have reached his potential.”

Josh became an Olympian in an unorthodox fashion, rallying after just missing a spot in his signature swim and clinching a berth in the 200 distance. He reached the apex of his career to date because of the listening skills of his parents.

Because she has traveled the most with Josh, Kristin has become his biggest confidant and cheerleader. She talks to him by phone after every race. Jeff gave Josh a “pep” talk after the third-place showing in the 100 breaststroke.

“I pale in comparison to Mom,” he said. “She’s the rock.”

According to Kristin, the Mathenys weren’t “crazy” parents. They knew when to “back off” and support Josh.

“I never want to be a dream crusher,” she said. “Life discourages you soon enough.

“As parents you should let them be their quirky, goofy selves and hope they find their passions. They will realize soon enough if they are good enough. You don’t have to discourage them.”

The Mathenys said children need to know that their parents have their back and that they will do what they can to help them with opportunities.

“In swimming, for example, you may not be an Olympic athlete but there are so many opportunities,” said Kristin, mentioning clubs, college teams and masters programs. “One of the most wonderful things I do now is swimming. So, if you love something you will find a way to do it at a level that is right for you.”

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