By: Chris Cowperthwaite, NBC17 Reporter

CARY, N.C. — While the United States continues its quest for more Olympic medals, a Cary orthodontist is recalling the silver he won more than 40 years ago.

To hear all about the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, all you’ve got to do is come in to get your braces tightened.

Dr. Gary Dilley won the silver in the 200 meter backstroke some 44 years ago, helping get the Americans off to a great start.

“We got a lot of good publicity because we went 1-2-3,” said Dilley.  “[We] took all the medals in that particular event.”

Nowadays, Dilley is a self-described fan of the Olympics and stays up late to watch some of the bigger races.

Dilley says he’s amazed at the athleticism of modern Olympians, and how easily people like Michael Phelps are rewriting the record books.

“Shoot.  Phelps is dropping seconds off of them rather than hundredths,” said Dilley.  “He’s for real.  It’s obvious from what he’s been able to accomplish.  All he needs is gills, and he’d be all set.”

One of the biggest benefits of all the attention Phelps is getting, according to Dilley, is that it’s generating unprecedented interest in the sport that he loves.

Dilley says his time back in 1964 of 2:10:5 was faster than the world record at that time, but against today’s competition, it wouldn’t even get him qualified.