In an interview with the Huffington Post’s Robbie Tripp, Olympic gold medalist Nathan Adrian admitted that he was invited to go out with Ryan Lochte and other U.S. swimmers after the final night of competition in Rio but decided to stay home.
Of course, it was later that night that Lochte, along with Jimmy Feigen, Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz had their now-infamous incident at a gas station that led to all four being sanctioned, with Lochte being kept out of next year’s World Championships as punishment.
When he was asked to go out, Adrian said that “it was already 2 a.m., and I was way too tired, so I told them I’m just not into going out right now.”
Adrian emphasized that he was just glad that all four ended up being safe, that the incident is mostly in the rear-view mirror, and that he was relieved that none of the other swimmers involved aside from Lochte will have sanctions that apply past the start of 2017.
“I personally felt like [Bentz, Conger, and Feigen] didn’t do anything wrong and didn’t deserve to be left out of any international competition,” he said.
Adrian admitted that it’s not unusual to see athletes going out in excess after finishing their competition at an Olympics.
“You can find trouble anywhere you go. There are going to be athletes who will say ‘I’ve trained and I’ve focused for so long’ and they just want to let loose, and they forget what something like alcohol can do to them.”
When asked to comment on his relationship with Lochte, Adrian said the two were “cordial.”
Read the full profile here.
It was such an awesome interview despite how your headline has to point out the Lochte bit. Because by promoting this fantastic article with a Lochte headline takes a lot away from the awesomeness of Nathan Adrian. Let the Lochte story go. And focus on the rest of the article. It’s stellar. What an inspiration Nathan Adrian is–in the pool and out!
agree…just an honest perspective…..some about lochte but a lot of good things
This is why Adrian is able to command a lot of respect from fans, as compared to Lochte.
Wow didn’t know lochte was banned from racing at worlds! Matthew Andersen Joe Stott
Cordial ?????
Lochte is a giant man-child. THats why only the younger swimmers hang around with him. The older, mature swimmers are all just “codial” with him because the way he asks on a continual basis. Hopefullly he learns something if he can even qualify next Olympics. Even in the 200IM there are some youngers guys about 3 seconds offf of him now that will probably pass him by 2020.
Quite obviously you were there or have talked to someone who was. Tell more.. Please give us more insight.
Nathan is really a nice guy and I still find it hilarious when he is singing the Pokemon theme song during the carpool!
Can we just let this go already? It’s not news anymore. Moving on!
The Huff Post author is a wordsmith and rebel who bought into the hands up don’t shoot canard. Shame on Nathan for not picking a better outlet.
Žiga Mesec
Martin raje pridi na treninge namesto da visiš na facebooku.
LP David
Hahaha bom bom k nam več prehlajen
Dobro