Nathan Adrian Could Compete at 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials; But Don’t Call It a Comeback
The way Nathan Adrian looks at the sport these days is different than his past. The chase for gold medals, and donning of the Red, White, and Blue, is over. But the Olympic champion still has an affinity for the pool and swimming, and one more push toward the Olympic Trials is not out of the question for the three-time Olympian.
These days, Adrian enjoys promoting the sport, teaching kids how to swim or improve their strokes and getting his fill of racing via Masters competition. Adrian is also sponsored by FINIS and has been a big proponent of the company’s Smart Goggles, cutting-edge equipment that is beneficial for all levels of swimmers in the data they provide.
Adrian, though, just might be on the deck at the 2024 United States Olympic Trials in Indianapolis. The qualifying time for the 50-meter freestyle is 22.79 and that’s a standard Adrian could meet. After all, he is in the pool to maintain fitness and a love of the water, and his natural talent level is beyond what 99.9% of the world can fathom.
“I would love to see you out at (Olympic) Trials or something, but it’s probably not going to be because I just qualified for the Olympics,” Adrian said in an interview with Nick Zaccardi of NBC Sports. “It’s probably going to be because there’s some old guy that qualified for Olympic Trials, and he’s out there swimming, having a good time.”
In addition to staying busy with sponsor obligations, Adrian and his wife, Hallie, have two children. While he excelled for Team USA at the international level for more than a decade, he is fine with the current chapter of his life, and doing work in the pool to stay healthy and fit.
“But all day, every day investing into it with mind, body and soul, I don’t have the bandwidth for that in my life anymore,” he said.
I hope Nathan does swim! I think a lot of Olympians step away from the sport when they basically no longer can compete at the pinnacle (i.e. no longer medal or final at the Olympics). But I personally feel it’s inspiring to see people swimming fast at any age – and even Olympic trials is an accomplishment few will ever achieve…