Nathan Adrian, the five-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer, recently competed in Season 3 of the reality TV series Special Forces: World's Toughest Test. He described the experience as incredible.
What was it like competing in Special Forces?
Adrian admitted that the experience felt very real, and the directing staff was incredibly gifted. He felt lucky to have had the opportunity to join in on Season 3.
Lessons learned from the reality TV competition series
The show helped Adrian get out of the 'performance comes from perfection' mindset and into a 'grind it out' type of mentality. He noted that when swimming, you had to align the stars as much as possible, but in real life, there is a lot more grinding that needs to be done.
Takeaways from Special Forces: World's Toughest Test
Adrian said there were tons of takeaways from the TV series. He believed that if he had been able to stay longer, he would have been able to do things he never would have thought possible beforehand. He saw the power of belief and the importance of having others help push you.
Nathan Adrian — The Co-owner of the AC Swim Club
Adrian co-owns the AC Swim Club along with Will Copeland. He said the club is going great, and they are about to start up their spring semester. They have the best teaching staff they have ever had, and the most enrollments they have ever had at this point in the year.
Owning a business and balancing a family
Adrian said owning and operating a business is a bit tricky to manage when you have a family. He is able to spend a ton of time with his girls during the slow season, but during the summer, he is usually at the pool quite a bit. He thinks this year they have the right people in the right places to be able to spend a little more time off the pool deck.
Greatest lesson that competitive swimming has taught him
Adrian reflected that consistent hard work will pay off. It may not pay off immediately, but it will pay off eventually. He thinks that is a really valuable lesson that he will take with him forever.
Adrian on his personal life: The husband and father
Adrian is married to Hallie, and they are parents to two daughters: Brooklyn and Parker. He said the girls are fantastic, and they are growing quickly and becoming the best of friends. He and Hallie are enjoying every moment of it.
Message for his fans and supporters
Adrian thanked his fans and supporters, saying he feels very blessed to be in the position he is in today. He acknowledged that it is in large part due to those who have supported him.