The Morning Swim Show, August 17, 2012: Nick Thoman Reveling in Thrill of Winning Olympic Medals

PHOENIX, Arizona, August 17. NICK Thoman is still basking in the glow of winning a gold and silver medal at the London Olympics, and he talks about the Olympic experience on today's edition of The Morning Swim Show.

Thoman talks about racing in the final of the 100 backstroke and helping the United States go 1-2 in the event. In addition to talking about his life since returning to the United States, Thoman talks about his future, including how long he expects to be out of the pool before he finds himself swimming again. Be sure to visit SwimmingWorld.TV for more video interviews.

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Morning Swim Show Transcripts
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Tiffany Elias: This is the Morning Swim Show for Friday, August 17th, 2012. I am your host Tiffany Elias. Today, in the FINIS Monitor is Nick Thoman, who recently added some pretty impressive hardware to his collection including a gold and silver medal from the London 2012 Olympic Games. Nick, thanks for joining us.

Nick Thoman: Thank you for having me.

Tiffany: So are you still up there in Cloud 9 or have you settled back into reality?

Nick: No, I don't think reality is really set in yet. I have been doing a lot of appearances and interviews and stuff so I don't really feel like I am you know really home and relaxing yet.

Tiffany: So are you traveling around for those appearances or, tell us a little bit more about that?

Nick: You know I had a home media day just a couple of miles north of here and out as well in North Carolina and then you know the Fox Studios yesterday afternoon we get in Charlotte and then I actually visited the hospital this morning.

Tiffany: Wow that is really exciting. Definitely warm welcomes from your state. So you have mentioned before this interview that you also went and just got some ink done which is become tradition for athletes everywhere, so just got those Olympic rings. Congratulations.

Nick: Thank you very much.

Tiffany: All right, where did you get those placed if you don't mind just asking?

Nick: I got them on my right shoulder blade here.

Tiffany: All right, well that is great. We look forward to seeing those in some photos hopefully if the swimming career continues which we will talk about a little bit later, but all right so going into London you had the 100 backstroke also the relay, the 400 medley relay and coming out with a gold and silver medal. What are your thoughts on your individual performance?

Nick: You know the 100 back was fantastic. I swam my own race and I swam fast and you know I end up hitting my hand second on the wall and got that pretty piece of metal that was silver and thankfully only Matt beat me, and it was great sharing the podium with him and hearing our national anthem and seeing our flag go up on top.

Tiffany: Yeah, well let's talk about that because in the 100 backstroke there was so much, so much emphasis put on Matt and his performance at trials and really the expectation of him following through and taking the gold in London, and then to see U.S go to only one other event did the U.S men do that and that was in the IM which we assumed and Lochte and Phelps, commonly referred to as Phelpte, but second on the wall that must have been a tremendous feeling.

Nick: It was fantastic. You know I hit the wall. I looked up and saw two next to my name. I looked over and saw Matt was in number one and you know I jumped over 2 lane lines and gave him a big old hug.

Tiffany: All right so now moving on to the 400 medley. You swam that event in the morning and then the United States men came back to win in the finals which we all saw them presented with their medals. You still got the gold there. Can you tell us a little bit about that procedure?

Nick: Yeah. You know we tried to rest the night relay as much as we can so that you know they can have the best performance hopefully go out and bust some heads if any busting and you know so I got out there and I swam with three of the other guys who had gotten second to our first place guys and you know just to try to be safe. To be safe that is what they told us to do so I would take a kick off in my start and a kick off in my wall just to make sure that I was definitely less than 15.

Tiffany: So how did they actually present you with your gold medal since you weren't able to join the guys on the stand?

Nick: Oh yeah, we actually had a U.S.A. swimming party afterwards. We went to the Team U.S.A. house and you know Frank Busch was up on the stage and the head men's coach, he came around and presented us with this box and this beautiful hunk of metal was in it, so that was great.

Tiffany: That was the follow up was if we could see those medals so– ?

Nick: Oh yeah, definitely.

Tiffany: — why don't you hold those on up. Are those pretty heavy because they look really heavy?

Nick: They are really heavy. You know the first time they put them on you– you are up on Cloud 9 so you are not feeling anything so you don't realize how heavy it is. Then you know, a couple of days later you put it back on for interviews and stuff you know you are like, “Aw man, I got to wear this thing around, dear Lord.”

Tiffany: What a problem to have.

Nick: I know, right.

Tiffany: So what is your plan for housing those medals, you are going to frame them or just keep them out next to the bed?

Nick: You know I will probably just keep it in the boxes for now. I will be traveling around doing clinics and stuff and you know the kids love to see the medals and one of the things we try to do at those clinics is to inspire the next generation. So if they can see you know Olympic medals, see if they are tangible, see if they are actually real, not just seeing them on TV. It is probably better.

Tiffany: Yeah I definitely think that will help especially inspiring a generation. People really responded well to that being the theme of London so that is a good thing that can carry on. All right so overall what were your thoughts of the U.S. performance as a whole team out in London?

Nick: You know, we did amazing, U.S.A. swimming did fantastic and all the other sports also they really stepped it up. I mean there was barely a sport that didn't have the U.S.A .in it and there was barely a sport where U.S.A. didn't win a medal and you know in the end we ended up on top and that was just awesome.

Tiffany: Yeah that is, that was great to be a part of as well being out there in London so now that you're back in North Carolina and the excitement is slowly coming down, what are your plans post London? Everybody is anxious to know for a lot of these athletes including yourself what is Nick Thoman's plan moving forward?

Nick: To take about two-month break.

Tiffany: Wow.

Nick: You know I am going to stay in shape. I am going run. I am going to do yoga, I am going to do stuff in the weight room but not really going to touch the water until October. I just get myself a little time to recover and get myself really hungry for it again and then you know hit the water, come back and then do a couple meets this fall and you know see how I feel. And you know I am going to keep swimming if I am having fun and if I am getting faster so who knows.

Tiffany: And I think that is a big thing is that you will still be staying in the water so that is the big question on everybody's mind. All right so also, it has been brought in to my attention just discussing the future moving forward that you just actually did some singing back in high school and you are really becoming known for that deep voce you have in the swim community some have even describe it as a mix between Fergie and Jesus. Is there going to be much of a future here in the singing department as we have seen some other athletes come forward with musical talents?

Nick: You know that is not really something I had ever I had really thought about. You know, if the right opportunity presents itself and if I get some friends who want to do something in a band — who knows, maybe.

Tiffany: Perhaps Eugene maybe. We have had him on the show playing some electric piano and a little singing.

Nick: Yeah, who knows, I think he is still in Charlotte. I think he might be actually up in Greensboro right now, but yeah. I don't know maybe we will get together.

Tiffany: Well just know that not only the Swimming World supports your swimming but your musical talents as well.

Nick: I appreciate that, thank you.

Tiffany: Well congratulations out in London and thanks for coming on the show today.

Nick: Well thanks for having me. I appreciate it.

Tiffany: All right thanks Nick. Well that concludes today's Morning Swim Show, make sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with all the latest news. I am your host Tiffany Elias. Have a great weekend.

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