RIO GRANDE - While people around the world are watching the Summer Olympics this August, one University of Rio Grande student is doing so with a very different perspective, knowing he almost made it to compete in the games.

Matt Boyles, who graduated from Rio Grande in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in business administration and is currently enrolled in the university's Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Entrepreneurship program, finished in second place at two U.S. Olympic qualifying events for race walking earlier this year. While he finished in second place, though, he did not reach the Olympic qualifying time limit, so he was not able to take part in the games this summer.

Race walking is a sport where the athletes walk at very high speeds for long distances.

“It doesn't look like walking. It looks like a funny run,” Boyles explained. He compared the racing sport to how in swimming competitions, there are many different types of swimming such as the freestyle and the backstroke. This is just another way of racing, and the sport is growing in popularity.

Boyles, 25, has been very successful competing both nationally and internationally, and he plans to continue competing. He may also attempt to qualify for the Olympics in 2012.

He is currently serving as a graduate assistant for the university for the 2008-2009 school year, and is working as an assistant coach with the Rio Grande track program.

Originally from Tuppers Plains, Ohio, Boyles was not a highly-recruited track athlete when he first came to Rio Grande. Track Coach Bob Willey introduced him to the sport of race walking, and Willey had other race walkers on campus at the time that also helped Boyles.

“It all started here with Coach Willey,” Boyles said. The sport was rather obscure at the time, but Boyles enjoyed it and continued to get better and better at it as he competed. He excelled in the competitions, and became a four-time NAIA national champion in race walking, and a 10-time All American for both running and race walking.

After graduating in 2005, Boyles first moved to the Olympic Training Center in San Diego, and then later moved to Dayton to receive coaching from the national chair of race walking.

“It was really a high level of training, day in and day out,” Boyles said. Training became one of the main focuses of his life, and he worked very hard to improve so he could qualify for the Olympics.

Boyles began competing in national events while he was at Rio Grande, and he finished in a higher place every year that he took part.

In his 2002, for example, his first year at a national competition, he finished in eighth place. In 2004, he was able to move up to sixth. In 2005, he finished in fifth place, and in 2006 he moved up to fourth place.

In 2007, Boyles finished in third place in the national competition, and in 2008, he finished in second place in the national competitions for both the 50K and 20 K races.

“Generally, the top three at the national competition make the Olympics,” Boyles said, adding that in order to qualify, the top finishers have to make a certain time. He unfortunately did not make that time, so he was not able to be named to the Olympic team.

After the national competition, he also took part in an international competition in Russia to try to reach the Olympic qualifying time, but again came up short.

He has competed very well against many of the race walkers who are in the Olympic games, and Boyles said it is a little frustrating to now be watching the Olympics on television instead of being a part of the games.

“It's a mix of emotions,” Boyles said. “I've been an Olympic fan since before I started running. The whole world stops to watch.” He is watching the games along with everyone else, but he also wishes he was there competing.

“I've been very blessed to do what I do and have what I have,” Boyles said, adding that his life is very good even though he is not at the Olympics this year. “It's just all the Lord's will. He's got a plan for me.”

Boyles has time now to decide if he wants to train for race walking for the 2012 Olympics, or if he wants to change the event he competes in. After training so hard for so many years, he is also enjoying taking a break from the training now that he is coaching at Rio Grande and is entering the MBA program.

“Training at a high level every day wears on you. It's good for me to regroup mentally,” Boyles said. He added that he is also excited about working with both the men's track team and the women's track team, and said Rio Grande has some outstanding athletes on both teams this year.

He hopes to help the Rio Grande students, just like his coaches and professors helped him when he first stepped on campus.

Boyles is also excited about improving his business knowledge and making himself more marketable to companies around the world by earning his MBA degree.

“It's just been a total evolution of what God's done in my life,” he said, adding that he has grown so much spiritually, academically and athletically since he first came to Rio Grande.

“I didn't come in as a high recruit. I didn't come in with any expectations at all,” Boyles said. “You never know what God has in store for you.” He added that while he still hopes to achieve more athletically, he is very happy with everything he has accomplished so far.

“It's been a real blessing,” Boyles said. “I don't want to discount how far the Lord has brought me. That's what makes not being at the Olympics easier to take. How can you complain with two second place finishes at the Olympic trials?”

For more information on Boyles or the Rio Grande track program, call Willey at 1-800-282-7201. For additional information on the MBA program, athletic department or the wide range of academic programs offered on Rio Grande's scenic campus, log onto www.rio.edu.