Eighteen years ago, Tom Jager was the fastest man in the water in the world. He held that title for almost a decade. During his career as a swimmer, he raced in three different Olympics (1984, 1988 and 1992), and won seven Olympic medals (five of them gold). Before all that, he won 11 NCAA titles while swimming for UCLA. He is currently the head coach of the University of Idaho's swimming and diving team.

Pretty darn impressive - and he got his start right here in good ol' St. Louis.

For more about his illustrious career as a force in the water, and to hear what he had to tell ToastedRav.com about his thoughts on this year's Olympics, read on.

Q. Do you still compete? What do you do?

A. Sometimes at noon ball here at the University of Idaho with a bunch of old professors.

Q. What do you enjoy most and least about coaching at Vandal?

A. It is a privilege for me to work with such hard working, good, honest kids. These athletes will work as hard as I ask them to and have fun doing it! I love that attitude. Being a coach is a awesome responsibility, I relish the challenges.  I have it pretty good. I guess the thing I enjoy least is when they highlight my swimming in the Olympics and not my athletes.

Q. Was it hard to make the transition?

A. No, may athletes allow me to be myself. I coach from my heart; just like I swam. So I don't see any difference. Except I don't have to get in the water at 6:30 a.m. I can stay dry and on the deck.

Q. What are your thoughts about swimming at this year's Olympics in Beijing?

A. I am always proud to be a swimmer, but this year I thought our athletes represented themselves and our country with a great deal of humility and integrity. I was very proud to be a swimmer when I saw Darra swim and they way she handled her self before the 50, when the other swimmers need a new suit. I was proud to be a swimmer when Mark Spitz and Michael Phelps were interviewed after MP won eight gold medals. Swimmers are great role models!

Q. Three words to describe Michael Phelps:

A. GREATEST ATHLETE TODAY

Q. People often wonder what goes through athletes' heads when they are standing there on the medal stand at the Olympics. What was going through yours?

A. What a relief, I won. Now where is the party?!

Q. What is your favorite Olympic memory?

A. The 4 x 100 Freestyle Relay in 1992. Matt Biondi and I swam our last relay together and we beat the favored Russians, well we didn't just beat the we kicked there butts. That was fun!

Q. What is a favorite memory of yours about swimming in the St. Louis area?

A. My friends: I married one of them Becky Jager (Beuckman) we have been married for 22 years. Kevin Effinger, Monkey Murphy, Nicky Stevensen, Larry Braue, Joe O'Donnell, John Reed ... all of friends I swam with.

Q. How did your time here affect what kind of a swimmer you turned out to be?

A. Well, Kevin Effinger was the only swimmer that I swam against in my life that could consistently beat me. So we pushed each other. A accident took him out of the sport, but he would have been great. We all had fun. Swimming is hard, but it is fun if you are surrounded by your friends. Swimming has always been about; hard work, friends and fun. All of which I learned at the East St. Louis YMCA.

Q. Who is your greatest inspiration?

A. John Wayne - His myth as much as much as his person, even though they were pretty close. I believe in "saying what you mean and meaning what you say". I also believe "a person(man) has to do what a person (man) has to do." And thank goodness we live in a country that allows that, and expects it.