- ABC News
- January 13, 2021
Klete Keller, a two-time U.S. Olympic swimming gold medalist, was apparently among the rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol last week, according to video footage. Video appears to show Keller, 38, maskless and donning a Team USA jacket during the riot. Keller was part of the U.S. swim team at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympics, anchoring the 4x200 freestyle. In 2004 in Athens, he notably held off Australia's Ian Thorpe to help his team -- which featured Michael Phelps -- win gold. A spokesperson for USA Swimming, reached by ESPN, could neither confirm nor deny that it is Keller seen in the video, which was first reported by the swimming news site SwimSwam. Several former teammates and coaches said they recognized Keller in the video, according to a report by The New York Times. A Townhall Media reporter shared the now-viral video from inside the Capitol Rotunda on Jan. 6, and Keller allegedly appears around the 12-second mark. "[W]e respect private...