[2] Gribble began swimming around the age of seven, taking a two-year break when he reached 14, and resuming serious high school competition at 16 which included training year round.

Though his college coach Bill Diaz characterized him as a consistently hard worker, he occasionally missed practices at several points in his long fourteen year career as a competitive swimmer.

Then, in the Olympic trials in July 1980, he came in second in the event to University of Texas swimmer William Paulus, suddenly placing Gribble in the national spotlight.

[8] As a Senior at Miami in June 1983, Gribble trained for the Olympics with the Hurricanes Swim Club in the off-season taking two practices a day and averaging 50–55 miles a week.

[16] In late July 1983, based on his steady performance in the 100-meter butterfly and her belief that he would soon break the world record in the event, Christine Brennan of the Miami Herald wrote that Gribble "should and probably will win an Olympic Gold Medal in 1984.

"[2] In one of his greatest achievements in international competition on August 18, 1983, Gribble won three gold medals at the 1983 Pan American Games in Caracas, Venezuela, where he teamed with backstroker Rick Carey, breaststroker Steve Lundquist, and freestyler Rowdy Gaines, setting a world record in the 400-meter medley relay of 3:40.22.

[10][15] As America boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics during President Jimmy Carter's term, Gribble and the American team did not attend.

[2] With a World Record time, and strong performance, prior to the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, Gribble was considered a favorite.

[24] On March 21, 2004, at age 41, Gribble died in a head-on automobile accident in Southwest Miami-Dade County near The Falls Shopping Center between SW 92nd and S. Dixie Highway in Miami.

[25] As a serious 1984 Olympic gold medal prospect in the 100-meter butterfly, Gribble was filmed with his college girlfriend Patty Anderson in March 1984, for ABC's TV program Up Close and Personal, and was also featured in the June issue of Life Magazine.

[2][26] After his death, a 50-yard sprint "Legends Race" to honor Gribble, and benefit Special Olympics was held on Saturday afternoon, May 22, 2004 at the Miami Rowing Club Pool on Rickenbacker Causeway.

Legendary swimmers Mark Spitz, Miami University teammate Jesse Vassallo, and Felope Munoz, Tim McKee, and Robert Strauss competed.