PLACENTIA : Olympians Evans, Nevin Honored

Olympic swimmer Janet Evans has become so accustomed to signing autographs after adding her fourth and fifth medals to her Seoul collection at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona that when a reporter at a city-sponsored ceremony on Monday approached her with notebook and pen, Evans automatically reached for the pen to sign her name.

Just as she realized her mistake, another notebook was pushed in front of her and an admirer asked her to sign. Evans flashed her trademark smile, crouched down and asked the young fan her name. Despite the heat and another appointment scheduled in South County just an hour later, Evans stayed until the last autograph seeker was gone.

The ceremony was held in a parking lot in Placentia, just steps away from the veterinary clinic where Evans’ father, Paul, has his practice. Olympic baseball player Phil Nevin, who was the No. 1 pick in the June baseball draft and who played third base on the U.S. team which finished fourth, was also honored.

Evans’ fame was launched in 1988, when she won three gold medals at the Olympic games in Seoul. Just 17, Evans became known as the tiny swimmer with a big stroke and an even bigger smile. In Barcelona, Evans added a silver medal in the 400-meter freestyle and a gold medal in the 800-meter freestyle to her collection.

Andrea Daste was 7 years old when she watched Evans in Seoul, and the swimmer’s accomplishments inspired Andrea to learn to swim.

“Since the last Olympics I’ve enjoyed watching Janet Evans,” Andrea said. “She has been my inspiration. She was just a regular person and then all of sudden she won Olympic gold medals.”

Andrea, now 11, said she practices at least one hour a day in her back-yard pool.

“If I practice enough, I might be an Olympic swimmer,” she said.

Andrea was joined by a crowd of about 75 people gathered to watch Evans and Nevin receive commendations from Mayor John O. Tynes. Nevin was presented a key to the city, a keepsake Evans was given four years ago after returning from Seoul.

The two Olympians graduated in 1988 from El Dorado High School. Friends throughout school, Nevin and Evans have kept in touch since then.

“It was real neat seeing Phil in Spain,” Evans said. “I went to the (last) game against Japan to cheer him on.”

Monday’s ceremony marked a rare break in both athletes’ schedules.

Nevin, who returned from Barcelona last week, will leave for Houston to join his new team, the Astros, next week. Between playing for the Cal State Fullerton baseball team, which finished second in the college world series in May, and the U.S. Olympic team, Nevin has spent little time at home since January.

“I’ve been working out to stay in shape, but mostly I’ve tried to relax and take it easy,” Nevin said of his brief respite from training and playing.

Evans faces a slew of appearances for sponsors and has an extended trip to the East Coast and Japan planned. She plans to return in January to Stanford, where she has two years left as a communications major.

Evans would like to work as a broadcaster, and if she does, she knows one questions she will avoid asking other athletes.

“It was real frustrating after winning the silver medal to be asked (by a television reporter) if I was disappointed in losing,” Evans said. “I mean, I won a silver medal at the Olympics. Of course I was thrilled.”