Former swimmer Klete Keller, a multiple Olympic medallist, has celebrated Donald Trump’s pardon of the nearly 1,600 people who stormed the Capitol in January 2021 during Joe Biden’s inauguration as US president. Keller is one of those who benefited from this political decision as he was actively involved in the assault. “It’s an incredible feeling of relief,” he said in an interview with The Washington Post
Theformer 400m freestyle bronze medallist and 4x200m freestyle silver medallist in Sydney, 400m freestyle bronze medallist again in Athens 2004 and 4x200m freestyle gold medallist at the Greek and Beijing Games, forming a quartet in which the star was Michael Phelps, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of obstructing an official proceeding.
Prosecutors had asked for a 10-month prison sentence, but a federal judge reduced it to six months of house arrest and three years of probation. He also had to perform360 hours of community service, which consisted of talks to schoolchildren in which he explained the mistakes that led him to take part in the crime.“It didn’t seem real. And waking up this morning, I thought, ‘Oh my God. This is over. I don’t have to communicate with my probation officer anymore. It’s an incredible feeling of relief,” Keller said after learning of the pardon.
In the same interview, Keller acknowledges that he was not very aware of the extent of his behavior at the Capitol: “I know my actions angered and harmed millions of Americans. I told this to the judge and I meant it. I acted without thinking. I didn’t stop or take time to reflect.”
The assault on the Capitol
Keller, who once turned himself in to federal authorities after a Denver court accused him of participating in the assault on the Capitol, regrets what he did: “I really regret the actions I took that day. I love this country. I’m so grateful to now have the opportunity to move forward.”
Born in Las Vegas, 42-year-old Keller, who is almost two meters tall, was part of the 4×200 relay team with Phelps, Lochte and Vanderkaay that broke the world 4×200 record at the 2007 World Championships in Melbourne. He was the relay swimmer who held off Ian Thorpe’s charge at the Athens Games in the 4×200 to restore American hegemony in that event, which they maintained from that point on. In World Championships he has four golds, one silver and three bronzes in both long and short course.