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Olympic gold medalist, former USC student seen in crowd at Capitol storming: Reports

Swimmer Klete Keller smiles after winning the men's 4 x 200m freestyle relay swimming heat in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on Aug. 12, 2008. (Greg Wood / AFP / Getty Images)

Two-time Olympic gold medalist and onetime USC student Klete Keller has been identified in the crowd at the storming of the U.S. Capitol, according to multiple reports.

Swimming news site SwimSam first reported Keller’s appearance at the Capitol on Monday.


Video of the insurrection appears to show a bearded, 6-foot-6-inch Keller inside the Capitol building Wednesday. He appears to be wearing an Olympic team jacket with “USA” printed on the back and sleeves.

According to the New York Times, several former teammates and coaches recognized Keller in the footage, and few were surprised by his presence at the riot. His now-deleted social media accounts included pro-Trump messages.

The 38-year-old medaled in the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics in the 400-meter freestyle and the 4×200-meter freestyle relay. He was a teammate of Olympian Michael Phelps.

In a 2014 interview with NBC Sports, Keller said he regretted “being so focused on swimming.”

“I should have put a lot more time into thinking about careers and what I was doing after swimming,” he said.

“You get done, and you’re like, ‘Oh God, what do you do now?'”

He said he held some “bitterness” toward himself and toward the sport.

Keller attended USC from 2000 to 2001 before leaving to focus on swimming, SwimSwam reported.

The FBI is asking for the public’s help as it continues to investigate the people involved in Wednesday’s violent breach at the U.S. Capitol.  

On Twitter, The Washington Field Office said it is seeking information to “assist in identifying individuals who are actively instigating violence in Washington, DC.”

The agency is urging people who saw unlawful activity during the violent protests to submit information to them. The FBI has provided an online tips form.