In 1987, he became the first person ever to repeat the feat two years in a row. Nicholas A Biondi died of natural causes on the evening of March 30th at the age of 88. Mrs. Dino was born in Newark, NJ and resided in Kearny for many years before moving to Belleville. Biondi anchored the U.S. team to a world record victory of 7 minutes, 12.51 seconds. All rights reserved. He commanded appearance fees. Neal heard a couple of Biondis recruitment talks. Please share your condolences at www.GRECOFUNERAL.com. "Biondi is Trying to do Better than his World-Record Year." The stunned student had just been at a cocktail party with his parents, and after getting bored with the adult conversation, he starting thumbing through a book on the coffee table. Four months later, he returned to the sport. 2017-2023 Tribute Archive. The event gave Biondi the 11th medal of his Olympic career, tying the U.S. record shared by Spitz and Osburn. "The basic truth is, it's a pain in the butt to be famous," Biondi said. Beloved Father, Grandfather and Great-Grandfather, 94 If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. Biondi is a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame and the United States Olympic Hall of Fame. If desired memorials may be made in Matthew's memory to North Shore Animal League America, 25 Davis Ave., Port Washington, NY 11050. We are saddened to announce that our beloved mother, Edith (nee Calderon) Suarez, peacefully passed away on Friday, Rose J. DeRisi Private Funeral Services will be held at the convenience of the family. Biondi still got a gold, but he could only watch as Olsen anchored the winning team in the final. Biondi ended the Games with five gold medals, one silver, and one bronze and set or contributed to four world records. Rancho Simi Community Park Pool. Looking back on those Games, here are three lessons that Matt . (nee Marra) DeRisi, 98, of Bloomfield, NJ passed away on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at her home Ines Anna (nee Scagliarini) Bottone Hes been largely focused on getting the organization up and running, complete with all the modern-era conduits of communication. Mrs. Bottone was a graduate of the University of Bologna, La Scuola Della Belle Ines Anna (nee Scagliarini) Bottone He. During the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, West Germany, young American swimmer Mark Spitz won seven gold, Owens, Jesse 19131980 Nate Biondi was born in Honolulu and grew up in a Waimea, a ranching town of about 10,000 people on the Big Island. Biondi "was thrilled with his achievements, but the intense push toward medals and records had worn on him," Portland Oregonian reporter Katy Muldoon wrote in a feature story in 2000. Kirsten still resides in Hawaii. I was so upset with swimming and the fact they they failed to modernize.. USA Swimming was out to produce the best-quality athletes to win the most medals at Olympics. She was impressed by his message. He broke individual NCAA and American records seven times, and was named the NCAA Swimmer of the Year in 1985, 1986, and 1987. To me, it's the path getting there that counts, not the cheese at the end of the maze. WHERE ARE THEY NOW / Matt Biondi / Biondi cashes out on swimming fame / Olympian finds peace teaching school in Hawaii, BIONDI-C-24SEP88-SP-AP.jpg Beloved Mother, Grandmother and Sister Bitter at the resistance he faced for trying to transform the sport of swimming, Biondi turned his back on the sport in the early 1990s. Mark Spitz Beloved Wife, Mother, Daughter, Sister and Aunt, 30 It was new and it was met with a great deal of resistance by several coaches and USA Swimming in particular.. Cal once again finished first in the 400 and 800 free relays with Biondi anchoring both, but once again fell short in the 400 medley relay finishing third. 3893 Our family serving your family with dignity, respect, compassion and first class service since 1941. While attending the University of CaliforniaBerkeley, Biondi became the first swimmer in more than a half-century to sweep the 50, 100, and 200-yard freestyle races in the NCAA Championships. I feel like this is the beginning of something pretty major that will have a big impact on the future of swimming.. Aztecs to honor 8 on Senior Night against Wyoming, but are all of them leaving? He put on clinics. Some of the best portions of the appearances were the post-speech, question-and-answer periods. He was extremely bitter about the whole experience and retired shortly afterward. Private funeral services were held for Mrs. Rachel (nee Coppola) Dino, 90, of Belleville, NJ, formerly of Kearny, who passed away on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at her home surrounded by her loving family. We are saddened to announce that our beloved mother, Edith (nee Calderon) Suarez, peacefully passed away on Friday, February 3, 2023 at her home surrounded by her loved ones. Biondi told her that he "felt like life was getting too easy, too soft. Bailey, Sandra. Visitation will be at the Biondi Funeral Home of Nutley, 540 Franklin Avenue on Monday, February 20 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Beloved Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother, 98 His personal record: 12 cities in eight days. It left such a sour taste in my mouth. "The Duel in the Pool Goes to Biondi." Visitation will be at the Biondi Funeral Home of Nutley, 540 Franklin Avenue, on Thursday, February 16 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 2909 Elmwood Avenue Kenmore, NY MATTHEW BIONDI OBITUARY Matthew M. Biondi was born on Tuesday, July 13, 1971 and passed away on Monday, January 27, 2020. Private Funeral Services will be held at the convenience of the family. At a time when most swimmers had little hope of making ends meet after the college careers were over, Biondi tried to capitalize on his Olympic success with a professionalized approach that actually paid the bills. Matt had a brilliant mind and a wonderful sense of humor. He and Jager competed in a series of lucrative exhibition races. "Biondi On Course with Butterfly Victory." "Men's 400 Free Relay (September 1984). There, with a two-page spread in a book about some of the worlds greatest athletes, was a photo of his math teacher. Im somewhat of a fossil when it comes to Twitter and Instagram and Facebook, Biondi said with a chuckle. Now, he is back at the pool, leading a new organization that hopes to improve the state of swimmers who have long been mere afterthoughts to those who make all the important decisions and cash in on their efforts. Please share your condolences at www.GRECOFUNERAL.com Funeral Home: Greco Funeral Home 2909 Elmwood Avenue Kenmore, NY US 14217. The Fastest NCAAs Ever - Biondi Doubt (May 1985)." All Rights Reserved. Exclusive: Stunning photos show Yosemite National Park under 15 feet of Warriors treating Andrew Wiggins with understandable patience, but his California snowpack hits highest level this century for March, could Map shows which parts of California exceeded entire years worth of rain, Map shows stunning improvement in California drought, Last chance to see: Bay Bridge lights turn off on Sunday. Hawaii also held some appeal because of its detachment from the world Biondi had inhabited since his Olympic breakthrough in Seoul in 1988. The competition is a one-day, short course yards meet held in conjunction with Biondi's masters club, the Conejo Valley Multisport Masters. Matthew Nicholas Biondi (born October 8, 1965) is an American former competitive swimmer and water polo player. When I tried to make it better before, the sport hurt me, the 55-year-old Biondi said in a telephone interview. All Rights Reserved. John W. Jordan So now Biondi spends his days in a classroom in Waimea, Hawaii, on the northern side of the Big Island. My list of medals and accomplishments goes three screens deep.. Beloved Wife, Mother, and Sister, 61 Litsky, Frank. American swimmers dont have a sense for the economy of the sport. Nate Biondi, a freshman at Cal, didnt make the traveling squad that will compete in the NCAA championships from Wednesday through Saturday in Minneapolis, but he has the ability and work ethic that predict hell have an impact on the perennial power before too long. They divorced in 2014. Those are some of the areas Biondi wants to address. Matt Biondi has picked up where he left off nearly three decades ago. "The press always throws stuff at you," he wrote in his Sports Illustrated diary. Mr. Michael Capitti, Jr., 62, of Orange Park, FL, formerly of Belleville, NJ, passed away on Friday, February 10, James Pedone He commanded appearance fees. There will be a funeral mass celebrated at the Cathedral Rosemary Falcon Matthew M. Biondi BIONDI, MATTHEW M. January 27, 2020, age 48, beloved companion and best friend of Camille L. Tabone; son of Sharon (nee English) Biondi and the late Angelo M. Biondi; brother of Renee Biondi and Mark Biondi. In high school, he was so skinny he was called Spiderman and derided on the basketball court. The Commissioners recently shared a dinner table with Matt and the NTS crew at the Election Commissioners Association Winter Conference; Matt entertained . Biondi was involved in one of the closest defeats of any competitor at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. She was impressed by his message. Olympic athlete, businessman (AP Photo/Russel Mcphedran). He reached his zenith at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea, where he won seven medals to tie the record set by swimming legend Mark Spitz . Yet it still presents major financial challenges for most competitors, provides scant transparency to where the money goes, and gives the athletes little say in deciding major issues. The Biondi Funeral Home is a third generation family-owned funeral home and a landmark in the Nutley, NJ community. "And I would like to work with one group all yearnot just come in traveling around with my gold medals, all sensational.". ." Private Funeral Services will be held at the convenience of the family. Nobodys Better Than Mission or Mercersburg (August 1983),, Georges, Chris. Mr. James Pedone, 63, of Newark, NJ passed away on Thursday, February 9, 2023 at his home. He just made a lot of sense, Neal said. Matt Biondi, Olympic legend of Seoul 1988, has been appointed Director of what was referred to as a type of athletes' union but will be known as the International Swimmers' Alliance by. Biondi chafed at a news coverage depicting his performance as disappointing. The New York Times (August 1, 1992). Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. [5] At the Los Angeles Olympics, Biondi swam the third leg of the relay, entering the water in second place, just barely behind the team from Australia. [17], Biondi has become active within the masters swimming community, launching an annual masters competition that bears his name. "Treading Water and Juggling Jobs." Address: Office, USA Swimming, One Olympic Plaza, Colorado Springs, CO, 80909. Even in the past few years, when he was working only three or four times each month, Biondi made between $5,000 and $10,000 per appearance. She was employed by Westinghouse in Harrison for many years before retiring. In his first race, having taken up the sport aged five, he made two false starts and then lost his swimsuit on the dive. (nee Marra) DeRisi, 98, of Bloomfield, NJ passed away on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at her home surrounded by her loving family. Mrs. Ines Anna (nee Scagliarini) Bottone, of Spartanburg, SC, formerly of Aventura, FL and Randolph, NJ, passed away on Sunday, January 29, 2023.surrounded by her loving family, "Catching Up With Matt Biondi, Swimmer." In his first year, he played on Berkeley's NCAA championship water polo team, and made the consolation finals at the 1984 NCAA Swimming Championships, finishing in ninth place in the 50-yard freestyle and 7th place in both the 100 and 200-yard freestyle events (until 1985 only the top six swimmers advanced to the championship finals) along with a fourth place finish as part of the 400-yard freestyle relay and a second place in the 800 free relay. During his career, he set three individual world records in the 50-meter freestyle and four in the 100-meter freestyle. The entombment will be at Immaculate Conception Chapel Mausoleum, 712 Rose J. DeRisi Following the 1992 Olympics, Biondi retired, which he attributed to multiple factors including lack of financial assistance. Enter your email below to receive a grief support message from us each day for a year. Even though he didnt start swimming year-round until he was 15, Matt Biondi posted a 20.40-seconds time in the 50-yard freestyle as a senior in high school making him the fastest sprinter from a public school in the world. It ended badly, California snowpack hits highest level this century for March, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). The lifeguard shouted at Matt to take Nate to the shallow end, because the child was not a good enough swimmer. Rosemary Falcon, 30, of Newark, NJ passed away on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at University Hospital, Newark. Edith Suarez Yet it still presents major financial challenges for most competitors, provides scant transparency to where the money goes, and gives the athletes little say in deciding major issues. Gymnast Larisa Latynina won 18 medals in Olympic competition, and is the most decorated Olympian to date in any sport. 2017-2023 Tribute Archive. Biondi finished with five golds, a silver (by one-hundredth of a second) and a bronze. He became a high school math teacher and coach, shunning swimming at its highest levels for 17 years. Theres no time at the moment for discussing big-picture issues. Now, hes back at the pool, leading a new organization that hopes to give swimmers a greater role in governing the sport and making sure theyre able to properly cash in on their efforts. This unprecedented accomplishment would create intense pressure at the 1988 Olympics, however, where Biondi was expected to match the seven gold medals claimed by legendary U.S. swimmer Mark Spitz sixteen years earlier. Rusty Simmons has worked at the San Francisco Chronicle as a reporter since 2002, when he moved to the Bay Area from Texas - via Washington, D.C., Seattle and Germany. Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at https://twitter.com/pnewberry1963 His work can be found at https://apnews.com/search/paulnewberry, More AP Olympic coverage: https://www.apnews.com/OlympicGames and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports, FILE - In this Sept. 21, 1988, file photo, Matt Biondi, of the United States, wears his Olympic gold medal during awarding ceremonies after the men's 800-meter freestyle relay at the Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea. Son Nate is a freshman at Cal. Biondi won the 50-meter freestyle with a world record time of 22.14 seconds. Four more gold medals followedin the 50-meter freestyle, 100-meter freestyle, 4100 freestyle relay, and the 4100 medley relay. Thats it, Biondi says now. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sports Illustrated (October 3, 1988). Recommend Matthew's obituary to your friends. Along with regularly breaking news and putting creative spins on big-issue stories within the Cal athletics beat, Rusty spends his offseasons writing human-interest features on the Bay Area sports landscape. USA Swimming was out to produce the best-quality athletes to win the most medals at Olympics. American swimmer After a 25-year. Instead, it sort of ended in a train wreck.. Beloved Brother and Uncle, 63 If desired memorials may be made in Matthew's memory to North Shore Animal League America, 25 Davis Ave., Port Washington, NY 11050. Arrangements by GRECO FUNERAL HOME. Thanks to his 49.67 second split time, the U.S. had taken a four-tenths of a second lead by the time that Biondi turned over the race to anchor swimmer Rowdy Gaines. We could have done some really great things, Biondi told The Associated Press, still sounding a bit wistful. He teaches math and philosophy at Parker School, which has about 130 students and where his sporting feats carry little influence. He spent 12 years bouncing from appearance to appearance, city to city, first to sign autographs and promote products and later as a coveted motivational speaker. We need a generation of swimmers who are willing to look at the big picture of the sport.. "Out of Retirement and Into Careerism." Most of the students dont have a clue about it, Matt Biondi said. Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at https://twitter.com/pnewberry1963 His work can be found at https://apnews.com/search/paulnewberry, More AP Olympic coverage: https://www.apnews.com/OlympicGames and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports. Biondi married Kirsten Metzger in her home state of Hawaii in 1995. nancy@conejovalleymultisportmasters.com (818) 469-9972. He was much loved by all in our various tennis groups for his beautiful personality, sense of humor, and kind spirit. His Olympic cachet earned him instant respect, when his students found his name in the Guiness Book of World Records and read a story about him in Sports Illustrated. We spent a ton of time together. We are taking great measures to go carefully, go methodically, so we can build a solid reputation among the swimming community that we are a helpful, useful organization.. Biondi has over the last two years recruited 120 world-class swimmers from 31 . When he missed his turn at the Junior Olympic qualifying in San Jose, he briefly lost it. When he produced six more medals at the 1987 Pan Pacific Champs . This made it viable for Biondi and other veteran swimmers to compete in the 1992 Games in Barcelona, Spain. At the same time, limitations were relaxed on payments amateur athletes could receive from endorsement and from their national federations, and U.S. How close we are to bringing lights back. MARILYN BIONDI OBITUARY Marilyn A. Biondi Loving mother and grandmother, 74 Marilyn A. Matt Biondi squeezed plenty of glory -- and money -- out of his 11 Olympic swimming medals. This is a second life., Matt Biondi decided to get his masters from Lewis & Clark College and go into education after 12 years on what he calls the rubber chicken circuit.. I couldnt believe it, Nate Biondi said. Enter your email below to receive a grief support message from us each day for a year. 1765 Royal Ave Simi Valley CA 93065 USA. Biondi won the first of his eight Olympic gold medals as an eighteen-year-old novice on the United States' 4100 meter freestyle relay team at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). To send flowers to the family in memory of Matthew M. Biondi please visit our, 25 Davis Avenue, Port Washington, NY 11050. 1 college football recruit. Matt Biondi - a swimmer, a teacher, a leader Published June 23rd, 2021 Matt Biondi - a swimmer, a teacher, a leader By Jon Kingdon Biondi speaks to the members of the International Swimmers Alliance in Budapest. He also captured gold and helped set a world record time in the 4200 freestyle relay. And mostly he was swimming against just Americans. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the San Diego Union-Tribune. BIONDI, MATTHEW M. January 27, 2020, age 48, beloved companion and best friend of Camille L. Tabone; son of Sharon (nee English) Biondi and the late Angelo M. Biondi; brother of Renee Biondi and Mark Biondi. I was sad for our sport.. I had pulled our medley relay and free relay from oblivion so many times at top level competitions, Biondi said. He's also The Chronicle's golf columnist, covering the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and all major championships in Northern California. American speed skater Bonnie Blair won six medals competing in three Winter Olympics Games, the second most, 1934- sports. I could make ends meet by working once a month. Date. He just made a lot of sense, Neal said. There will be a funeral service celebrated at the funeral home on Saturday, February 25at 10:00 a.m. Funeral Home website by. Wife of missing Bay Area radio host says Jeffrey Vandergrift will not Sen. Dianne Feinstein is hospitalized in San Francisco with shingles, California extends deadline to file 2022 income taxes to match IRS decision, A $200M bike bridge tantalized this Bay Area city. Theyre told what to do, and theyre obedient. Beloved companion and best friend of Camille L. Tabone; son of Sharon (nee English) Biondi and the late Angelo M. Biondi; brother of Renee. Surprisingly, Nate Biondi said he hasnt felt pushed to live up to dads legacy, which includes 11 Olympic medals, five world records and eight individual NCAA championships. Litsky, Frank. Time has not dimmed Biondis remarkable swimming career, his legacy cemented by a dynamic showing at Seoul in 1988 when he made a run at Mark Spitzs then-record of seven gold medals in a single games. Mrs. Ann M. (nee Coppola) Greiss, 87, of Clifton, NJ, formerly of Lakewood and North Arlington, NJ, passed away on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. Horoscope for Friday, 3/03/23 by Christopher Renstrom, No seriously, dont drive up to Tahoe this weekend, Wife of Jeffrey Vandergrift issues somber update, Snowboarder dies at Tahoe ski resort following historic blizzard, Horoscope for Saturday, 3/04/23 by Christopher Renstrom, Scream publicity stunt floods Bay Area dispatch with 911 calls, The Warriors broke Russell Westbrook, just like old times, Mochi muffin bakery closes SF cafe after just 4 months, Rain reenters Bay Area forecast: Have an umbrella near you, Oakland ransomware attackers leak 'confidential' data, The best fried chicken is at a San Francisco strip club, 10 beach essentials to pack for a spring break vacation, 14 things you need in your car before you drive to Tahoe, 6 Cabo hotels for your spring break vacation, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). Biondi, who grew up in Moraga and burst onto the swimming scene at Cal, moved to Hawaii in part because his wife, Kirsten, is a native of the islands. "I want to make a difference by being in a profession where I can spend a lot of time with kids," Biondi said. Then again, fame began to gnaw at Biondi. He would arrive with an outline and capture the audience by speaking from the heart. All of those options sound fine to his former Cal coach, Nort Thornton. Biondi, dumbfounded, resisted the temptation to identify himself. No matter what you say or do, you're the tall guy who stood up in the little swimsuit, touched the wall first and threw your arms up in victory.". My most difficult event is over and I still have a chance to walk away with seven medals. Notable Sports Figures. Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. He was loved and cherished by many . As a swimmer, he is an eleven-time Olympic medalist, and former world record-holder in five events. The New York Times (September 26, 1988). He was able to compete, but managed only one individual medal (a silver in the 50-meter freestyle) along with two delayed golds. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. "When he had two job offers from Hawaii private schools," Sports Illustrated said, "he chose the school that didn't have a swim team.". Event Website Event Registration. Matt was a good friend in High School and college when I needed a good friend. In two World Championships (1986 and 1991), Biondi won 11 medals including six gold. We are tennis friends of Matt. Beloved Wife, Mother, Daughter, Sister and Aunt, 30 In 1988, he won seven medals, including five golds, and he added three more medals at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. We had a revenue stream, Biondi proudly recalled. He was born on October 16, 1967, in San Francisco, CA and he grew up in Moraga, CA, where he graduated from Campolindo High School in 1985. The latest Padres, Chargers and Aztecs headlines along with the other top San Diego sports stories every morning. Encyclopedias almanacs transcripts and maps. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Biondi, Spitz, and shooter Carl Osburn are the only U.S. athletes to win eleven Olympic medals overall. Matt Biondi left large legacy at Cal for son Nate, Cal leading scorer Don Coleman leaving program. Mr. John W. Jordan, 94, of Bridgewater, NJ, formerly of East Brunswick, NJ, passed away on Monday, February 20, 2023 surrounded by his loving family. A few months later, they bumped into each other on the street in Berkeley. At a time when most swimmers had little hope of making ends meet after the college careers were over, Biondi tried to capitalize on his Olympic success with a professionalized approach that actually paid the bills. Biondi still won five gold medals, one silver medal, and one bronze medal in the 1988 Olympics, breaking the world records in four of those victories: three in relay races, and one in the 50-meter freestyle, taking just 22.14 seconds for this swim. 1939- Hes been largely focused on getting the organization up and running, complete with all the modern-era conduits of communication. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). Litsky, Frank. "I was always conscious of every lap and every, stroke. I felt unheard. Retrieved February 23, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/sports/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/biondi-matt. She was a WWII survivor. Im a telephone and email guy.. "Biondi is Learning to Set his Pace." BIONDI, MATTHEW M. January 27, 2020, age 48, beloved companion and best friend of Camille L. Tabone; son of Sharon (nee English) Biondi and the late Angelo M. Biondi; brother of Renee Biondi and Mark Biondi. Mary is also predeceased by her siblings Theodore "Teddy" Preblick and Richard Preblick. She was genuinely angry when he said he couldn't wait. He was also one of the smartest and hardest working people I ever met. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. Hes quietly signed up more than 100 swimmers from 31 nations, with a leadership group that includes Olympic champions Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands, Katinka Hosszu of Hungary, Chad le Clos of South Africa and American Lia Neal, who recently announced her retirement from competition. In 1985, Biondi was the NCAA Champion in two individual and two team eventsthe 100 and 200-yard freestyle races and the 4100 yard and 4200 yard freestyle relays. Cal alum Matt Biondi is an 11-tim Olympic medalist. Youd think that would he an easy sell to those putting in the work, but he often finds swimmers especially those in the U.S. are as resistant to change as the coaches and bureaucrats who benefit from their efforts. With the U.S. Olympic trials set to start on Sunday and the Tokyo Games less than two months away Biondi isnt looking to make a big splash right away. Matthew M. Biondi was a. Thanks in large part to Biondi's efforts, the Cal team finished fourth overall in the team standings. As a swimmer, he is an eleven-time Olympic medalist, and former world record-holder in five events. Nate may not have had a very rewarding freshman year, but he made improvements. Russian speed skater "I'm at the point now where I'm not interested in people remembering me for what I've done, but for what I offer.". Contact Information: Nancy Kirkpatrick-Reno. Theres no time at the moment for discussing big-picture issues. He became a high school math teacher and coach, shunning swimming at its highest levels for 17 years. Photos provided I remember throwing down my goggles and saying: Swimming sucks. But those that do a little digging quickly find that hes someone worth listening to. Biondi generated a six-figure income, but it was a difficult existence for someone who is shy and protective of his privacy. The entombment John W. Jordan There will be no prior visitation. Time (July 27, 1992). Bitter at the resistance he faced for trying to transform swimming into a truly professional endeavor after his triumphant performance at the Seoul Olympics, he turned his back on the sport that was such a big part of his life. Neal heard a couple of Biondis recruitment talks. It just doesnt match up with what they know of me. [12][13], Biondi's time in the 100-meter freestyle final was the only swim of the competition below 49.00 seconds, and he set a new Olympic record of 48.63 seconds, the second fastest swim at this distance at that time. BIONDI - Matthew M.January 27, 2020, age 48. John J. Ruggiero, Patch Staff Oxford |. He was a taxi driver for many Michael Capitti, Jr. Funeral Home website by, Join our obituary notification email list. However, the date of retrieval is often important. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"4iCDM2Kj_zkwza0YEYz_PYIisBtDcaRB5yBeGj61TRA-86400-0"}; "He has the ability to feel the water, much like an artist feels the canvas and a pianist feels the keys," said Nort Thornton, Biondi's coach at UC Berkeley. 2023 Biondi Funeral Home. He defeated his friend and rival Tom Jager in the 50-meter freestyle for the first time in two years and broke Jager's record time in the event. Our condolences to Matts family and friends who knew him and lived with him and loved him. January 27, 2020, age 48. He had gotten past the days of trying to memorize note cards spread across his waterbed. The Bears finished fifth in the team standings. Visitation will be at the Biondi Funeral Home of Nutley, 540 Franklin Avenue on Tuesday, February 14 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. At the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Biondi won five gold medals, setting world records in the 50-meter freestyle and three relay events. Matt Biondi, a super hero both in and out of the pool as he continues to do remarkable things by expanding young minds in the classroom. We could have done some really great things, Biondi told The Associated Press, still sounding a bit wistful. Biondi soon embraced a routine of airplane flights, faceless hotels and corporate gigs. Biondi slowly drifted back to a sport that had taken tepid steps toward the system he once envisioned, allowing Michael Phelps to become a millionaire many times over and many top swimmers to at least make a comfortable living.