What is something that most people don't know about you?

When and how did you start swimming competitively?
I started swimming competitively when I was around seven years old. I did a little country club swimming when I was younger. My mom swam when she was growing up, and that led to my brother swimming. I fought it for a few years. I enjoyed country club swimming but I didn't want to get more serious with it. Eventually my brother and mom convinced me - actually they forced me (laughs) - and here I am now.

Did you play any other sports in high school?
In high school, no. I'm not very coordinated, so I learned that swimming was my only shot at performing athletically (laughs). In middle school and elementary school I played soccer and basketball.

What were the Olympic Trials like? Did you swim against any ACC competitors?
(The Olympic Trials) were amazing. I'm not just saying that because they were the Olympic Trials either. The way they did it this year, it was over the top. The venue was basically a sports arena that they dropped a pool in the middle of. It was a huge arena with the (most) people I have ever swam in front of. The pool was amazing, the atmosphere was awesome. All of those people were swimming so fast. They had all these pyrotechnics. Flames were going off on the side of the pool and fireworks. There were so many people. It was unlike any meet I'd ever been to.

A couple of North Carolina guys swam in the mile. None of them were in my heat, but they were in my event. Fran Crippen, a former Virginia swimmer, was right next to me.

Why did you choose Florida State?
If you had told me at the beginning of my senior year in high school that I was going to Florida State, I would have called you crazy. I started looking at schools that were good at distance events, which is what I do. I narrowed it down to two conferences - the Big Ten and the ACC. Then I narrowed it down to a few schools in each conference. Florida State was a school that didn't have a history in distance events, but had produced several good distance swimmers in the past few years. They had sent three distance swimmers to NCAAs. Soon I was interested and sent in my information. They got back to me, and I got to talk to the distance coach at the time, James Barber. He was instrumental in the building of the distance program here. He really got me excited about (FSU) and I came down here and loved it.

What do you do when you're not training?
Swimming takes up a lot of time. Then there is school and study hall. I just like to relax. I do a lot of reading. I like movies a lot. Laid back stuff.

What do you want to do after college?
That is still undecided. Being a history major leaves a lot of options open. I will probably continue my education. I have thought about law school. Right now, I'm focusing on what I'm doing now.

What is your biggest accomplishment away from athletics?
The improvement I have shown in school. My freshman year, I didn't do so hot. I had some rough times. Since then, I've been steadily getting better. Hopefully I'll be able to get on the ACC All-Academic team. I'm proud of becoming a better student and not focusing as much on swimming.

What is your most memorable moment in your swimming career?
I have three that come to mind. Two are my own and one is a team memory.

One of my personal memories is from Junior Nationals in 2005. I'd had a good meet so far. There was one race left - the mile. My coach came up to me and handed me this time and said, "You can go this." It was 25 seconds faster than my best time. I had just dropped a lot of time a few weeks before, and I told him he was crazy. I didn't believe him. I ended up going the exact time he told me and got my first national cut.

My second memory was when I got my Olympic Trial cut which was at Spring Nationals in 2006, my senior year in high school. Ian Rowe, who is also a distance swimmer here at Florida State, we both got our Olympic Trial cuts at that meet, in the same heat.

The third memory is from my freshman year, when we won the ACC Championship. In the locker room, before the last relay, our coach (Neil Harper) had brought us in there to tell us it wasn't over and there was still one more relay. He told us we had to stay focused and to keep on cheering. I don't know who it was, but someone started clapping and it got louder and faster and faster. Before we knew what happened, (Coach Harper) lost his composure and started screaming with joy and happiness. We all joined in. That was my best team memory.

What is your favorite place on campus?
The football stadium, first of all, the whole thing is made out of brick and it is this grand, huge structure on the edge of campus. You can see it from a distance when you're nowhere near it. It just looms over everything.

The new pool, I'd say that second because it is not on campus, but it is great. You walk out there and it is open, there is a lot of space. It is always in pristine condition, perfectly clean. The water is always crisp. It is a great facility. I spend a lot of time there.

Who is your most influential role model?
My dad. He's a real great guy and he's always been there. Both of my parents have always been extremely supportive of my swimming. My mom understands it a little bit more. My dad will tell you he understands it, but I don't think he understands it as much as he thinks he does (laughs). He still supports it fully. He loves swimming and he loves me and he's always been extremely supportive of my efforts in school. He's just been a great role model.

What are some of your individual goals for the season?
I'd like to do well at the (ACC Championship) and score points. I'd like to go to NCAAs again like I did last year and score points and be an All-American. That is what I have been working towards and focusing on.

Graves and his teammates return to the pool on Saturday, February 7 when the Seminoles take on Auburn.