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Cal's Nathan Adrian Earns Olympic Gold Medal as Member of 400-Free Relay | USA Swimming Bio
National Team Success
• Earned a gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics as a member of the U.S. 400-meter freestyle relay. He helped Team USA set a then-world record in the preliminary round, covering the distance in 3:12.23, before the United States set a new world record in the final to capture gold
• Qualified for the Olympic team by finishing fourth (48.46) in the 100 free at the U.S. Olympic Trials
• Adrian was the first Cal male swimmer since Anthony Ervin in 2000 to qualify for the U.S. Olympic squad
• In the 2008 Short Course World Swimming Championships, won gold in the 100 free with a championship-record time of 46.67; was a member of the U.S. gold medal-winning and world record-setting 400-free relay; won silver in the 4x100-medley relay, swimming the freestyle leg in 45.73
• Placed fourth in the 50 free in the 2005 Junior Pan Pacific Championships
Cal Success
• Sat out the 2007-08 collegiate season to train for the 2008 Beijing Olympics
• As a freshman, placed second in the 100-yard butterfly in the 2007 Pac-10 Championships and finished eighth in the 100 free at the 2007 NCAA Championships
High School Success
• A 2006 graduate of Bremerton high School in Bremerton, Wash.
• Set the state's record in the 200 freestyle in 2006
Personal
• Parents are James and Cecilia Adrian
• Has a brother, Justin, who swam for Washington, and a sister, Donella, who swam for Arizona State
• Undeclared major
• Born Dec. 7, 1988, in Bremerton, Wash.
What other schools were you considering when deciding where to go?
University of Arizona, Texas and Auburn University
Why did you choose Cal?
I chose Cal for its rich tradition they have build through their swim programs along with their academic history as the No. 1 public school in the nation.
What do you hope to gain from your four years at Cal?
I hope to come from Cal with an experience that is unique compared to any other schools' student athletes. With Berkeley being such a unique place and San Francisco right across the water, I don't see that being much of a problem.
Where do you see yourself after graduation?
I see myself swimming for several more years and after that moving back to Bremerton and starting a life and a family.
What do you think makes Cal different than any other school?
Cal is made up of students from all around the world that are all unique in a special way. I am especially proud to know so many people from foreign countries that had such different experiences growing up than I did.
What is your favorite memory at Cal so far?
I refuse to choose a particular memory to become my favorite. Cal has been a collaboration of hundreds of great memories and experiences that I only hope to add to.
What are your swimming goals for this year and for the rest of your college swimming career?
Swimming goals this year are to continue to swim well. I think the best part about swimming is that there is always room for improvement. There is no better feeling in the world than to go a best time, and I would really enjoy having a few of those moments this year.
