Bremerton swimmer Nathan Andrian won the Olympic gold medal in the men’s 100-meter freestyle Wednesday, becoming the first athlete with ties to the state to collect a top prize in the London Games. Adrian, who won a silver in the 4×100 freestyle relay Sunday, edged Australia’s James Magnussen by the smallest of margins — one-hundreth of a second.
Adrian finished in 47.52 seconds while Magnussen touched in 47.53. Canada’s Brent Hayden finished third in 47.80.
“I had no idea I touched first,” said Adrian. “I’m a guy that has a lot of speed and I can go out fast and I die a little more in the in the final 50. It’s a little nerve-racking in the final 50. I just had to focus on it and stay strong.”
The creme of the U.S. swimming team, Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte, watched the race from an Olympic waiting room.
“We watched t and just went nuts,” said Lochte. “We were screaming and everything. That was one of the greatest finishes. We’re so happy for him.”
Adrian’s gold is the second of his career. In 2008 at Beijing, he was part of USA’s victorious 4×100 relay team.
In addition to his two Olympic haul, Adrian won three golds and one bronze at the World Long Course Championships, and two golds and a silver at the World Short Course Championships. Adrian also owns four gold medals from the Pan Pacific Championships.
Adrian is a graduate of Bremerton High School and the University of California, where he majored in pre-med.
Hours before Adrian won the 100 freestyle, five rowers with connections to the University of Washington earned medals.
Former UW All-America Megan Kalmoe and current Husky Adrienne Martelli earned a bronze for the USA in women’s quadruple sculls, while UW grads Conlin McCabe, Will Crothers and Rob Gibson, representing Canada, took a silver in men’s eight.
Also, Air Force Capt. and Brush Prairie fencer Seth Kelsey finished fourth in men’s epee, losing the bronze medal match to a South Korean by one point in extra time. He also lost the semifinal match by one point in extra time. A U.S. medal would have been the first in men’s fencing in 88 years.
| Date | Athlete | Sport | Event | Connection | Medal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/1 | Nathan Adrian | Swim | 100 free | Bremerton | Gold |
| 7/29 | Nathan Adrian | Swim | 4×100 relay | Bremerton | Silver |
| 8/1 | Rob Gibson | Rowing | *Eight | UW | Silver |
| 8/1 | Will Crothers | Rowing | *Eight | UW | Silver |
| 8/1 | Conlin McCabe | Rowing | *Eight | UW | Silver |
| 7/30 | Marti Malloy | Judo | 57 KG | Oak Harbor | Bronze |
| 8/1 | Megan Kalmoe | Rowing | Quad Sculls | UW | Bronze |
| 8/1 | Adrienne Martelli | Rowing | Quad Sculls | UW | Bronze |