A day after bronze, David Plummer soaks it all in

RIO DE JANEIRO – The day after David Plummer won an Olympic bronze medal, his alarm rang a lot earlier than he would have preferred. Still, the former Gophers swimmer didn't mind.

Plummer awoke at 6:35 a.m. Tuesday, less than six hours after finishing a post-competition news conference at Olympic Aquatics Stadium. A car took him from his room at the Olympic Village to the NBC set at Copacabana Beach — which he said was "really beautiful'' — for an appearance on the "Today'' show, where he talked about his third-place finish in the men's 100-meter backstroke.

The interviews, congratulations and celebration haven't stopped since Plummer became the first Gophers swimmer to win an Olympic medal for the U.S. Because his business in Rio is not done, he was trying not to wear himself out. Plummer is expected to swim in the preliminaries of the men's 4 x 100 medley relay Friday, an event the U.S. has won in every Olympics in which it has raced.

For a few special hours, though, he took a break from his workload to simply enjoy the moment.

"I was so tired, I can't believe how hard it was to get out of bed,'' said Plummer, of Minneapolis. "But it's been a fun day. Little by little, it's sunk in.''

Plummer shared the podium with American teammate Ryan Murphy, 21, who won the gold medal. They extended a tradition of American excellence in the 100 back at the Olympics. U.S. men have won gold in six consecutive Summer Games, and Americans have been off the podium in only three Olympics dating to 1908.

Following the award ceremony, Plummer met up with his wife, Erin, his mother, Kathy, and other friends and family in the stands to show off his medal. Congratulations and praise poured in via social media, with even the U's College of Liberal Arts weighing in. Plummer was an English major at the U, graduating in 2008.

He also coaches the boys' swim team at Wayzata High School, which paid two tributes. The team gathered at a home to watch Plummer's race — giving its traditional cheer at the beginning and end of his swim — and posted a video of their exuberant reaction to his finish. NBC also surprised Plummer with letters written by his swimmers, and he was clearly touched as he read them on Facebook.

Murphy, considered the next great U.S. backstroker, had kind words for Plummer, too. "I look up to David a lot,'' he said. "It's hard to race a guy like him, because I really want him to do well. The competitor in me just wants to beat up on everyone as much as I can. But it's hard to do that when David is next to you.''

Before long, Plummer will be back in Minneapolis, taking his two young sons to the wading pool at their neighborhood park. He plans to stay at the Rio Olympics only a few more days before packing up his bronze medal and heading home, where more congratulations await.

"This has been so cool,'' Plummer said. "The outpouring of support has just been great. But I can't wait to get back to my kids.''