Troy Dalbey and Mike Evans have spent an incredible number of hours in the water - training and competing for the right to represent the United States at the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea, Sept. 18-Oct. 2.In 1986, Dalbey, then of San Jose, Calif., was one of the top high school swimmers in the country. The 6-foot-3 Evans developed into a top college water polo player in the late 1970's while competing for the University of California at Irvine.

But this talented pair has more in common than just their abilities in the water. They are active Latter-day Saints. And they both say the Church has had a positive impact on their sports success.

"I know it has helped my swimming a lot," Dalbey said, "because I've become a lot more mellow person."

This summer, Dalbey shocked the swimming world by upsetting Matt Biondi in the 200-meter freestyle at the Olympic Trials in Austin, Texas. It was the third time in three months he had beaten Biondi, who was considered virtually invincible in that event.

Dalbey also qualified to compete in the 400- and 800-meter freestyle relays at the Summer Games. When he returns, he plans to transfer from the University of Florida to BYU for his last three years of college eligibility. Florida is one of the country's top five schools in swimming while BYU is competitive but not a national power.He said he wants to make a break from the lifestyle he led before his conversion.

"I'm only human," he said. "I just don't want to do anything that could possibly affect me. If I went back to Florida, I'd have to start all over again, anyway."

Dalbey's introduction to the Church occurred a few years back when he dated an LDS young woman. About a year ago, at a time when he wasn't "feeling too good about myself," two missionaries knocked on his door.

"I started taking the discussions, prayed about the Church and came to know it was true," he said.

He hopes his changed lifestyle can be an example and make others think twice about the gospel he has embraced wholeheartedly. He hopes to serve a mission some day.

"I've prayed about it, and it's something that definitely should lie in my future," he said.

When Mike Evans decided to serve a mission eight years ago, he had not been active in the Church since high school. He had graduated from seminary but had gradually stopped attending Church during college, when weekend water polo competitions conflicted with Church meetings and activities.

"There just came a time when I decided to get things in order," Evans said. "I had always had a desire to go on a mission, so I approached my bishop, but I had been so inactive he didn't even know who I was."

Evans served in Venezuela, where he said he received eight years' worth of a college education in 18 months.

After his mission, he returned to Cal-Irvine. In a Spanish class, he met his wife Dina, whom he dated and introduced to the full-time missionaries. She joined the Church, and they were married and now have two children. He's a stake missionary in the Newport Beach (Calif.) 2nd Ward.

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When an offer to become a part of the U.S. water polo team came about four years ago, he and Dina made the decision together. She supports him 100 percent. "I don't think wives get as much credit as they deserve," he noted.

On the U.S. team, he plays the position of driver, where he is known for his creative shooting techniques, speed and strength. He is usually sent into games when the score is tied or his team is behind.

"My job is to get open and score the goal, because I'm not afraid to shoot the ball," said Evans, one of four Church members on the water polo team.

He and Dalbey also are not afraid to speak out on what they believe. Many news stories have focused on their Church membership. Regardless of how well they do in the Olympics, they have already scored a victory in the competition that really counts. - Bill Homer in San Jose, Calif.; and Kevin Stoker, Church News staff writer

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