Catching up with NCAA swim champion and Bremerton native Nathan Adrian

Here is an excerpt for the interview:

Q: How about the team? Gauge its performance.

A:The team did amazing. I was happy with the finish. Of course, any team would have loved to win the competition. However, we still out-performed most of the other teams there in the water and that’s something we can take a lot of confidence from going into next year.

Q: How has your swimming progressed over the past year? What have you been working on?

A: My swimming has progressed with a few stroke changes and a lot of strength gains. We do a lot of work in the weight room and that has transitioned well to the pool.

Q: How is school going?

A: School is going fine. I am just finishing up a lot of the prerequisites for my public health major. Classes are fine, I am happy to be back in a routine without any interruptions. I will probably graduate in a year-and-a-half or two years. It depends on how much summer school I do. After graduation I will probably try to qualify for the 2012 Olympics and after that, who knows?

ReachOut Interview: Nathan Adrian, Gold Medal Olympic Swimmer

What made you want to start swimming competitively?

Nathan Adrian: Honestly, competitive swimming was just kind of in my blood. My brother and sister had always done it. I grew up in an area where there were a lot of distractions and a lot of negative distractions that could bring me down, and so my mom wanted me to get involved in some extra curricular activities outside of school to keep me going and keep me focused.

Congratulations on recently graduating from UC Berkeley. It is very inspirational that you managed to find time to train, study and be social. How did you maintain a sense of balance? Was it difficult?

Nathan: Yes (laughs) it was extremely difficult! Everybody has their own story and struggles through school, but the reason I was successful was because I was able to compartmentalize my time. When I was really focused on school, I was really focused on school and when I was really focused on swimming, I was really focused on swimming. The little time I had for being social I was definitely being social and interacting with my friends versus doing any one of those activities with another on my mind. It’s not going to work out well for you if you are going to be in the water training hard but reviewing chemistry problems for your test that’s upcoming in two or three days.

That sounds great in theory, but how did you train your brain to be able to keep everything so separate. I know for even myself sometimes it is hard on a more basic level to be doing one activity without checking my phone constantly! It can be very difficult…How did you manage it?

Nathan: You know, in theory you’re right. It does sound great and you know there is no perfect theory other than the fact that that is what I wanted to do. There were still thoughts in the back of my head even during practice like “Hey, maybe I shouldn’t try as hard because I’m going to be so much more tired, and I won’t be able to study later.” At the same time, in terms of studying I knew I couldn’t study in my room because I knew I wasn’t efficient in doing it - I would go and bother my roommates or do this or do that. When I really wanted to get something done, I would have to get a cup of coffee, go to the library, or go somewhere quiet wherever it was just me and my studies or working with a study partner.

What does it take to become a gold medalist and how can aspiring athletes get there? Is it a case of mainly being very disciplined and knowing what you can and can’t do like you just mentioned?

Nathan: Yeah, that is tough. I mean there are really a lot of things. One of them is going to be support from around you. Not that that is completely in your control, but you can definitely control the type of people you surround yourself with. I’m fortunate in that I have a ton of people who are really positive. If people dream big or have high goals we don’t cut them down for it because of that. Instead we say, “I like the fact you have these great goals. Let’s figure out a way we can help you achieve them.” We do that in a group so that’s something that’s really special about being here. Then besides that you just need to have a huge amount of desire, dedication and a lot of discipline. Just take a combination of them and being able to do things you really don’t want to do at the time. I mean getting up at 5 a.m. for practice 5 days a week is not something I necessarily wanted to do all the time, but I knew I needed to do it to be good.

And once you reach your goals, the payoff is so great you are willing to do it all again?

Nathan Adrian: Absolutely! The funny thing is that I have been more excited to train right now then I think I have been in years. The fact that I was successful just makes me want to get back in the water and start to improve myself that much more and see how far I can really take myself in this sport.

Yes, congratulations again on all your successes at this year’s Olympics! It inspired so many people and that must be a real motivating force in propelling yourself forward?

Nathan: Yes, exactly! It’s great!

With all of that pressure to win, I imagine that could put a great deal of stress on someone. Were there things you did to help relieve your stress and to become more relaxed?

Nathan: Yes, absolutely. You know, what’s funny is that some people see swimming as a huge stress, but exercise is such a stress reliever helping you to release endorphins. I really do believe in that and feel it especially going into a practice and being really stressed out about school or outside situations, and then to get a good swim in or work out, and then afterwards it just kind of clears my mind. Those stresses are still there, but after I can figure out how to conquer them and what I can do about them.

Swimming with so many other great U.S. athletes like Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte, did it ever make you feel intimidated or were you to focused on what you needed to do?

Nathan: I had a lot of pressure on my shoulders in the 2011 World Championships. I actually came up short on that. I didn’t do quite as well as I had hoped or a lot of people thought I would do, but I quickly realized that that was because I had let other people’s expectations get the better of me. I’m the most comfortable swimming for myself and going in there trying to be the best that I can be because I know there is nothing I can do to control everybody else. There is no point in worrying about what’s going on outside your lane in swimming. So swimming in 2012, it really was an internal focus, feeding off of that positive energy of my teammates and trying to utilize that.

Is there anything you do routine wise before a race that helps you get focused or relax? Are you superstitious at all?

Nathan: (Laughs) No, I don’t really adhere to any strict routines. I think any superstitions, to be completely honest, would just end up hurting me. If I had a lucky rabbit’s foot, or if I had anything like that, I would totally forget it because I forget things all the time. I’m really forgetful and then I would think I’m not going to be able to do my best because I didn’t have it. So I don’t necessarily believe in that. Talking with other people in the ready room or my teammates before the race is really beneficial to relax. Sometimes they don’t even have an event that day but they are nice enough to give their time to help other people relax. There is a lot to be said about having a laugh before a race!

You mentioned earlier that a strong network of support helps you. Is there anyone in particular that inspired you to become an Olympian?

Nathan: I was able to train with Gary Hall, Jr. in 2007. He was the Olympic champion in 2000 and 2004 in the 50 m freestyle, and I was really appreciative of how open he was and friendly and down to earth of a guy. There was this huge persona that was put on him by the media and then you meet him and he is just the nicest and most generous guy that you’ve ever met. So I really enjoyed that!

That ties in nicely with my last question. Since you have been in the media spotlight has it changed your relationships with friends and family, etc… at all? Have you noticed a shift?

With my closest friends, absolutely not, I love that and it really shows the character of who my friends are. Outside of that, there is a little bit of a change but it is nothing I blame anyone for. It’s just kind of the natural ebb and flow of this professional swimming life. It’s probably going to settle down in about a year or so, and then hopefully in 2016 it will be there again. When I look at relationships that I have with people and if they change…it’s not really something I see as a positive or necessarily a negative thing - it’s just kind of a thing. It’s kind of a side effect of me being able to achieve my goals. I’m also thankful to my coaches, the people surrounding me and ultimately to my health that I’ve been able to achieve them!

Nathan Adrian chimes in from Italy

Here is an excerpt from the interview:

Q: Describe your emotions during and after the winning 400 relay race.

A: It was a feeling of disbelief, to be honest. All I could hear when I touched the wall were my teammates cheering, and that was the most exciting part.

A Golden Homecoming for Bremerton's Nathan Adrian

Here are a few exerpts:

While walking on campus at the University of California-Berkeley, Nathan Adrian doesn’t draw the attention that his counterparts from the recent Bejing Olympics do.

Adrian, 20, isn’t bombarded with autograph seekers ala Michael Phelps. And no, the Bremerton native hasn’t put pen to paper for an upcoming book. He’s too busy writing papers, studying chemistry and becoming accustomed to life as a student-athlete again.

“We were going crazy,” Adrian said of watching Lezak come from behind to beat world record holder Alain Bernard of France in the final 50 meters. “Everyone was thinking the French had already won by the time Jason jumped in. And by the last 50 (Jason) started catching him, and man, it was just really exciting.

“Just crazy how he actually did it, how he touched him out, I mean just the feelings afterwards. I think we were all just in shock. I was shaking. I had no idea how he did it.”

At the moment, it hadn’t dawned on Adrian that he was a gold medalist.

“That set in a little bit later,” he said. “I was caught up in the fact that he had actually done it. It was incredible.”

But the feeling of being an Olympic champion came full circle when Adrian was presented his medal.

“It … feels like any other medal except that it’s heavier and bigger,” Adrian said. “But at the same time, the kind of the thought behind it, ‘Wow! This is an Olympic gold medal. How many people get to hold these, let alone get to call it their own.’ That’s pretty exciting. But it doesn’t necessarily mark the end, or my final goal.

“I’d like to think that there’s more in store.”

The Water Rocket

He ripped his Speedo before ripping past water god Michael Phelps to win the 100m freestyle in April at Indianapolis Grand Prix. But Nathan Adrian — who nabbed Olympic gold for the 4x100m freestyle relay in 2008 (he swam prelims) and helped UC Berkeley’s Cal Bears win their first NCAA title in 31 years in 2011 — knows teamwork is everything.

Nathan Adrian

Swimming

Birthday: Dec. 7, 1988

Height: 6’6”

Weight: 225 lb

Hometown: Bremerton, WA

Michael [Phelps] and I were probably in different places in training at the time, but anytime you get your hand on the wall before the best swimmer ever it’s obviously a confidence booster — especially in a really important year. That’s an awesome thing to do.

But at the same time, I love seeing Michael going fast, too, because this summer it’s going to be really difficult to win some of those relays if everybody’s not firing on all cylinders.

[Team USA’s gold in relay in Beijing] continues to inspire me. Seeing pictures or watching that video, it’s hard not to get a little scared that we’re not going to win or not going to get some butterflies in our stomach.

Watching that [relay win] from the stands was a motivating factor for me going back into training. I was so hungry at that point — I wanted to be in the race. It really lit the fire under me to make sure [I’d be] in a position to be on those relays at the next World Championships and Olympics.

There’s a pretty delicate balance [with weight training]. I’m fortunate that I can put on and take off weight fairly easily.

The fall time is usually when we’re working very hard and it’s OK to put on a little bit of muscle. I’ll get all the way up to about 230 lb or so.

In the pool, especially at 6 a.m. on Monday, we’re starting slow. Even before then I hop in a hot shower to loosen up and stretch my shoulders and my lower back. Then in the pool we start with some pretty slow kicking work and some drills. The entire time we’re building up intensity. We’re not going to hit it real hard from the beginning with a high heart rate, high effort and high intensity the entire time.

I was extremely competitive as a kid. As I grew up and matured, I had to find ways to limit that, where I could express that. In games of Risk, I would find that I would kind of dislike the other person if they were beating me.

It’s especially tough in college to separate your value as a swimmer from your value as a person. Letting your sport define you is something I think a lot of athletes struggle with. And then to make that your living makes it an even harder struggle.

The positive aspects far outweigh anything negative. I’ve built some of the closest friends you could imagine. We’ve been basically to hell and back with the training we’ve done.

Swimming has been a rock for me throughout my academic career, especially at a pretty tough university. I could see a lot of people getting wrapped up in the stress of finals, so having a solid foundation and a structure so I wasn’t going crazy studying all the time really helps.

The most exciting part about swimming in general is we’re not quite at that limit yet. World records go down by fractions of a second. The sport is evolving and how you train is evolving, and there’s so much more potential for speed — and that’s so exciting about our sport.

Olympic gold would be a great culmination of all the hard work and stepping stones in terms of all the championships and medals I’ve been able to achieve so far. It would mean a lot. It’s a difficult thing to explain.

But even after a hopefully good, successful London campaign, the most exciting time of my career will still be yet to come.

Adrian has Olympic potential, but Pac-10 is No. 1

In a San Francisco Chronicle article from March 3, 2010:

Cal coach Dave Durden thinks what sets Adrian apart is his “kinesthetic awareness.”

“There are two types of sprinters,” he said. “There are dumb sprinters, guys who just go down and back as fast as they can. And there are guys who are very thoughtful, very cerebral. They can feel everything. Whether it’s through their little toes or their pinky fingers, they have that sense of the water. Nathan’s the latter.”

Maybe the cerebral part explains how the public-health major carries a 3.7 grade-point average even though he trains most days for five hours.

Olympic experience and college degree in hand, Bremerton's Adrian a U.S. favorite

Excerpts from the article:

No chest-thumping needed.

That could be Nathan Adrian’s new motto.

Adrian is perfectly content to let his speed speak for itself when he leaves the starting blocks. He’ll get that chance at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials. Adrian is familiar with the venue. But to say the expectations are greater this time around would be an understatement.

“There’s a lot more expectations coming in, it takes a lot out of you physically and emotionally,” he said.

“I think that he’s got all the confidence that he needs,” Hall said. “Chest-thumping is not required to swim fast. He knows that. The way that one great player prepares himself does not have to be textbook for all the other great swimmers to follow. Everybody’s different. I don’t think Nathan is trying to be anyone other than Nathan.”

“I’m different from the other guys on the (national) team,” Adrian said. “That’s neither a good thing nor a bad thing. I’m not trying to be Michael or Ryan. I’m moving through this trials as me.”

From Beijing to now, much has changed. Adrian graduated with honors from California in May, with a 3.7 grade-point average and a public health degree. This summer marks the first time in his swimming career Adrian didn’t have to shuffle between school and training. ”That is very, very nice,” Adrian admitted. “I was pretty determined to finish it.”

But Adrian’s best marketing tool may be his personality.

He’s on Twitter (@nathangadrian) where he routinely interacts with fans. He’s interested in sky diving and go-kart racing — choosing to follow his coaches advice and curtail those activities until after the summer. He’s an accomplished remote-control helicopter pilot who buzzes his roommates heads while they watch TV. He was in an episode of Mythbusters after Beijing where he swam in a syrup-like substance. He was in an online video with U.S. Olympic diving hopeful Brittany Viola where she taught him to salsa. He made Crushable’s Hottest U.S. Olympic Athletes list. He’s been in photo shoots in Us Weekly, Glamour and In Touch magazines and was part of the United States Olympic Committee’s Media Summit in Colorado Springs.

Those last few photo shoots gave his mom, Cecilia Adrian, a chuckle.

“It is different because … that is not a swim magazine,” she said. “They wanted to see his muscles.”

Cal’s Durden said he’s seen Adrian handle the national attention better. ”Nathan is, by his nature, a hard worker,” Durden said. “And he knows what he needs to do to be successful.”

Olympic champion Hall said Adrian has a good head on his shoulders. ”To a certain degree you do have to embrace it … to secure (that) commercial endorsement,” Hall said. “Nathan doesn’t strike me as the type that becomes enthralled with the reflection in the camera. … There couldn’t be a better spokesman for the sport than Nathan Adrian in my opinion.”

To his family and roommates, Adrian is still that same guy they’ve known for years. ”He’s still my little Nathan,” Cecilia laughed. “He’s 6-foot-6 and he’s still my little Nathan.”

Adrian is aware of what’s being said and written about him—he just chooses to not get bogged down.

“To me, personally, over-thinking it is a burden and becomes a negative,” he said. “I try not to read too many swimming websites or articles. What matters at the end of the day is my preparation versus everyone else’s preparation.”

Nathan Adrian's Interview in Girl's Life Magazine

Swimmer Nathan Adrian, 23, snagged a gold medal for the 4x100-meter relay in Beijing and is on target to collect more hardware in London. And with abs like that, we could watch him swim all day!

LITTLE FISH. I’ve been in the pool since before I can remember. I joined a swim team when I was 5. There’s a home video of my first meet, and it looks like I am drowning.”

POOL PERKS. “As a swimmer, I enjoy the fact that get to do what I love. It’s fun meeting people who are just as excited about the Olympics as I am.”

UP IN THE AIR. When I’m not swimming, I have a couple remote control helicopters that I play around with, or I fly kites. I want to go sky diving, but my friends keep wimping out on me.”

GF MATERIAL. “I like spontaneity and intelligence in a girl. Nothing is more attractive to me than someone who has a good sense of who she is and can hold her own in a conversation.”

MEAL TIME. “I have six meals a day, and I try to eat properly as much as possible. My fridge is stocked with milk, yogurt, fruits and vegetables.”