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the_milky_wayOMG I got the *new* Take That CD today. And it is*new* because there really is a *new* song on there, as in "never been released before".
*sighs*
Take That.
***
I simply love Klete.
15 Where’s a place you’d like to visit?
Klete: I’ve been looking at New Zealand lately. That seems cool, ocean and mountains – everything I like and it’s not too populated.
1 One of your Michigan teammates told me you get into shape faster than anyone – how does that work?
Klete: I think I get myself into (laughs) trouble in the first place by getting so out of shape! By the time the season rolls around, I have to do something, and quick! So I try to get in shape. But this is my job now, so I have to get back into shape quickly and stay in shape – it’s more of a survival thing!
2 It’s been a while since we’ve talked, I have to ask you about your comment post-race in 2004, dedicating it to the U.S. troops – where did that come from?
Klete: I guess it was spontaneous. It wasn’t like I was thinking about what I’d say if I was interviewed. It seems like I hadn’t heard anybody mention the troops since the Olympics started, or even at Olympic Trials. The Pat Tillman story was still fresh in my mind, even though it had happened a while earlier. I had been thinking about going into the military at that point – it was something I was considering – and I think it’s important no matter the politics that we recognize the men and women in the military. And at a stage like the Olympics, it’s a good place to give the troop their props.
3 Might we see you in the military?
Klete: That’s doubtful now. I thought about it for a while, but I think that was just an idea I had at that time. Post-swimming, what will I do? I don’t know. I’m pretty sure this (2008) is my last run. I’m getting a construction-management degree, and hopefully I will be done with that by the time Beijing rolls around. I don’t know that I will get a job right away after I’m done swimming – I might just wander around for a while.
4 How different is it swimming for Bob Bowman, who is regarded as pretty intense, compared to Jon Urbanchek, who is seen as more laid back?
Klete: That’s not completely accurate; I don’t think Bob and Jon are entirely that different – even their personalities are a lot alike and both are a lot of fun to be around.
5 How about in the water?
Klete: Their workouts are similar in a lot of ways, too. The only difference is (laughs) Bob isn’t afraid to let you have it and yell at you if you are slacking off. He can get the team really fired up, too – that’s something I like about Bob as well. I am really close to Jon – still am. Jon and Bob are very good friends – you can see them running out each and every day. They get along so well and work for the best of the swimmers on the team.
6 What keeps you in Michigan?
Klete: I came here pretty much strictly for swimming, and it’s pretty much the reason I am still here. But Ann Arbor is a nice, fun town – it’s not too big and not too small. I’ve made some good friends on the team. It’s a good place for me swimming-wise. I get to hang out with Jon (Urbanchek) every day, which is cool.
7 What’s it like swimming alongside Michael Phelps, Peter Vanderkaay, Chris DeJong, Davis Tarwater, Chris Thompson, etc., at Michigan every day in practice?
Klete: It’s normal by now, for me. When I think back about when I was in high school and junior high, there weren’t a whole lot of kids to swim with in practice – maybe one or two, whereas here there are 5 or 6 other guys who are international caliber. Someone is “on” every day, so there’s always someone to race. Michael Phelps – I can’t believe how fast he goes in workouts, it’s amazing! When he wants to, he’s gone, forget about it!
8 What is it like now as a veteran as oppose to a young buck – what has experience taught you?
Klete: I think what it’s done is it has helped me get through the points when I’m not swimming so fast. I’ve experienced that before. If I keep going and show up to workouts it will come around eventually.
9 Do you share a lot of swimming training and info with your sister, Kalyn (who is at USC)?
Klete: I know she’s in good hands with Mark Schubert; he’s done an awesome job with her. The only thing I tell her is, “You swim faster than any woman I’ve heard of in workouts, so you can beat anybody.” I tell her just to have confidence, and to remember how she’s trained when it comes down to the meet. Sometimes she can get a little nervous, so I tell her to relax and have confidence in her training.
10 What’s a hobby you have?
Klete: Right now I do a lot of work around my house, because I got a house about year ago now. I’m still pretty excited about that. I enjoy working on it, whether it’s mowing the lawn or fixing the fence like I’m doing right now – and have been doing all day! I also like to do a little bit of woodworking. I haven’t completely dove into that yet, but I do have a table saw and plan to get some more things for the woodworking – last year I did some nice carvings. But, hopefully, I won’t lop off any fingers!
11 You are still at a high level now – all these years later – did you think your run would last this long?
Klete: I am pretty surprised that I have been able to keep my passion for the sport and also to perform when the time comes. Something I kind of pride myself on is when it’s time to perform I want to be able to do it. A lot of that comes from Pierre Lafontaine, one of my first coaches, who gave me a really good base of yardage and taught me what it means to work hard. With him I did what I would consider “insane” amounts of yardage. He started me out with distance work – when I was in high school I trained for the mile. He had a really good idea, that, “This is the kind of training you do when you are young and your body can handle it, and when you get older you can work on the sprints and middle distance events.” That was a good plan – it worked for me.
12 You’ve done well in a few open water outings – might you try that eventually?
Klete: That was just something I did for training mainly. I like to go to the places that have these events, especially the one in Maui. I did one in Alaska too, last summer, and really liked that. So I make a vacation out of the open water swims because they are in some very interesting places compared to the regular swim meets.
13 Are you going to try some new events?
Klete: I’ll stick with what I’ve done – the 200 free and 400 free, that’s (laughs) all I can do!
14 What gets you out of bed in morning?
Klete: These past two Olympics, I’ve gotten bronze in the 400 free, and I really never believed I could do a whole lot better, or come close to world record in the 400; but I’ve started thinking I have a chance at that. I’ve talked to Jon and Bob and they seem to think the same thing. That’s really what gets me up in the morning – thinking about the world record in the 400 free.
15 Where’s a place you’d like to visit?
Klete: I’ve been looking at New Zealand lately. That seems cool, ocean and mountains – everything I like and it’s not too populated.
16 Bob Bowman told me Michael Phelps has fit in quite well – why is that?
Klete: Michael is our age – I mean, I’m older – but he is the age of the guys in school so they have a lot of the same interests. One of the things I can vouch for with Bob is that Michael is really grounded. I never really realized Michael’s celebrity status until lately, and he really is a big deal out of the pool. The thing is, Michael doesn’t talk about stuff like that, he’s just one of the guys and he works hard. People respect that and like to hang out with him.
17 Do you have a post-race or pre-race fave meal?
Klete: I pretty much eat whatever. Post-race meals – those are the things that keep getting me in trouble and why I have to get back into shape all the time! I used to talk to Troy Dalby (the master’s Coach in Phoenix), who is also an Olympian, when I was growing, and one of the things I asked him about was nutrition, and while it’s good to have a healthy diet, I asked him if I should eat anything special before meets, or avoid hamburgers. Troy said, “Eat what you’re used to eating and what works before you train – don’t start eating just certain things before a meet because your body is not used to that.”
18 Where do you think you will live when you are done swimming?
Klete: Even though I like it here, I’m thinking I probably won’t stay in Michigan. I want to kind of get away from people and traffic…and civilization. So I would love to live in Alaska, and if not there, then somewhere else where I could buy a ton of land, like Montana or Wyoming. In fact, there’s part of the answer to one of your previous questions – what gets me out of the bed in the morning? To swim well, swim fast and make some money so I can buy some land like that some day! That’s a big motivation!
19 Do you go to many University of Michigan sporting events?
Klete: I’ve been to a few football games. I live only three houses away from the stadium, so cars park in my driveway on game day! So there are tailgaters…I mean, I’m literally 100 yards from the stadium, so if I’m watching the game at home I can hear it going on outside. I’m still more of an ’SC fan – that’s where I went to school, so I stay true to ’SC football.
20 Who is someone on the team you are particularly close to?
Klete: Those guys are all awesome. In a way, I wish I could be in school with them. They are all the same age and have classes together – and many of them live together – I’m not as close to them in terms of being around them as much. But I really enjoy the company of all of them, and love hanging out with them. There’s not a guy on the team I don’t like. They’re great – it’s definitely a good environment.
*sighs*
Take That.
***
I simply love Klete.
15 Where’s a place you’d like to visit?
Klete: I’ve been looking at New Zealand lately. That seems cool, ocean and mountains – everything I like and it’s not too populated.
1 One of your Michigan teammates told me you get into shape faster than anyone – how does that work?
Klete: I think I get myself into (laughs) trouble in the first place by getting so out of shape! By the time the season rolls around, I have to do something, and quick! So I try to get in shape. But this is my job now, so I have to get back into shape quickly and stay in shape – it’s more of a survival thing!
2 It’s been a while since we’ve talked, I have to ask you about your comment post-race in 2004, dedicating it to the U.S. troops – where did that come from?
Klete: I guess it was spontaneous. It wasn’t like I was thinking about what I’d say if I was interviewed. It seems like I hadn’t heard anybody mention the troops since the Olympics started, or even at Olympic Trials. The Pat Tillman story was still fresh in my mind, even though it had happened a while earlier. I had been thinking about going into the military at that point – it was something I was considering – and I think it’s important no matter the politics that we recognize the men and women in the military. And at a stage like the Olympics, it’s a good place to give the troop their props.
3 Might we see you in the military?
Klete: That’s doubtful now. I thought about it for a while, but I think that was just an idea I had at that time. Post-swimming, what will I do? I don’t know. I’m pretty sure this (2008) is my last run. I’m getting a construction-management degree, and hopefully I will be done with that by the time Beijing rolls around. I don’t know that I will get a job right away after I’m done swimming – I might just wander around for a while.
4 How different is it swimming for Bob Bowman, who is regarded as pretty intense, compared to Jon Urbanchek, who is seen as more laid back?
Klete: That’s not completely accurate; I don’t think Bob and Jon are entirely that different – even their personalities are a lot alike and both are a lot of fun to be around.
5 How about in the water?
Klete: Their workouts are similar in a lot of ways, too. The only difference is (laughs) Bob isn’t afraid to let you have it and yell at you if you are slacking off. He can get the team really fired up, too – that’s something I like about Bob as well. I am really close to Jon – still am. Jon and Bob are very good friends – you can see them running out each and every day. They get along so well and work for the best of the swimmers on the team.
6 What keeps you in Michigan?
Klete: I came here pretty much strictly for swimming, and it’s pretty much the reason I am still here. But Ann Arbor is a nice, fun town – it’s not too big and not too small. I’ve made some good friends on the team. It’s a good place for me swimming-wise. I get to hang out with Jon (Urbanchek) every day, which is cool.
7 What’s it like swimming alongside Michael Phelps, Peter Vanderkaay, Chris DeJong, Davis Tarwater, Chris Thompson, etc., at Michigan every day in practice?
Klete: It’s normal by now, for me. When I think back about when I was in high school and junior high, there weren’t a whole lot of kids to swim with in practice – maybe one or two, whereas here there are 5 or 6 other guys who are international caliber. Someone is “on” every day, so there’s always someone to race. Michael Phelps – I can’t believe how fast he goes in workouts, it’s amazing! When he wants to, he’s gone, forget about it!
8 What is it like now as a veteran as oppose to a young buck – what has experience taught you?
Klete: I think what it’s done is it has helped me get through the points when I’m not swimming so fast. I’ve experienced that before. If I keep going and show up to workouts it will come around eventually.
9 Do you share a lot of swimming training and info with your sister, Kalyn (who is at USC)?
Klete: I know she’s in good hands with Mark Schubert; he’s done an awesome job with her. The only thing I tell her is, “You swim faster than any woman I’ve heard of in workouts, so you can beat anybody.” I tell her just to have confidence, and to remember how she’s trained when it comes down to the meet. Sometimes she can get a little nervous, so I tell her to relax and have confidence in her training.
10 What’s a hobby you have?
Klete: Right now I do a lot of work around my house, because I got a house about year ago now. I’m still pretty excited about that. I enjoy working on it, whether it’s mowing the lawn or fixing the fence like I’m doing right now – and have been doing all day! I also like to do a little bit of woodworking. I haven’t completely dove into that yet, but I do have a table saw and plan to get some more things for the woodworking – last year I did some nice carvings. But, hopefully, I won’t lop off any fingers!
11 You are still at a high level now – all these years later – did you think your run would last this long?
Klete: I am pretty surprised that I have been able to keep my passion for the sport and also to perform when the time comes. Something I kind of pride myself on is when it’s time to perform I want to be able to do it. A lot of that comes from Pierre Lafontaine, one of my first coaches, who gave me a really good base of yardage and taught me what it means to work hard. With him I did what I would consider “insane” amounts of yardage. He started me out with distance work – when I was in high school I trained for the mile. He had a really good idea, that, “This is the kind of training you do when you are young and your body can handle it, and when you get older you can work on the sprints and middle distance events.” That was a good plan – it worked for me.
12 You’ve done well in a few open water outings – might you try that eventually?
Klete: That was just something I did for training mainly. I like to go to the places that have these events, especially the one in Maui. I did one in Alaska too, last summer, and really liked that. So I make a vacation out of the open water swims because they are in some very interesting places compared to the regular swim meets.
13 Are you going to try some new events?
Klete: I’ll stick with what I’ve done – the 200 free and 400 free, that’s (laughs) all I can do!
14 What gets you out of bed in morning?
Klete: These past two Olympics, I’ve gotten bronze in the 400 free, and I really never believed I could do a whole lot better, or come close to world record in the 400; but I’ve started thinking I have a chance at that. I’ve talked to Jon and Bob and they seem to think the same thing. That’s really what gets me up in the morning – thinking about the world record in the 400 free.
15 Where’s a place you’d like to visit?
Klete: I’ve been looking at New Zealand lately. That seems cool, ocean and mountains – everything I like and it’s not too populated.
16 Bob Bowman told me Michael Phelps has fit in quite well – why is that?
Klete: Michael is our age – I mean, I’m older – but he is the age of the guys in school so they have a lot of the same interests. One of the things I can vouch for with Bob is that Michael is really grounded. I never really realized Michael’s celebrity status until lately, and he really is a big deal out of the pool. The thing is, Michael doesn’t talk about stuff like that, he’s just one of the guys and he works hard. People respect that and like to hang out with him.
17 Do you have a post-race or pre-race fave meal?
Klete: I pretty much eat whatever. Post-race meals – those are the things that keep getting me in trouble and why I have to get back into shape all the time! I used to talk to Troy Dalby (the master’s Coach in Phoenix), who is also an Olympian, when I was growing, and one of the things I asked him about was nutrition, and while it’s good to have a healthy diet, I asked him if I should eat anything special before meets, or avoid hamburgers. Troy said, “Eat what you’re used to eating and what works before you train – don’t start eating just certain things before a meet because your body is not used to that.”
18 Where do you think you will live when you are done swimming?
Klete: Even though I like it here, I’m thinking I probably won’t stay in Michigan. I want to kind of get away from people and traffic…and civilization. So I would love to live in Alaska, and if not there, then somewhere else where I could buy a ton of land, like Montana or Wyoming. In fact, there’s part of the answer to one of your previous questions – what gets me out of the bed in the morning? To swim well, swim fast and make some money so I can buy some land like that some day! That’s a big motivation!
19 Do you go to many University of Michigan sporting events?
Klete: I’ve been to a few football games. I live only three houses away from the stadium, so cars park in my driveway on game day! So there are tailgaters…I mean, I’m literally 100 yards from the stadium, so if I’m watching the game at home I can hear it going on outside. I’m still more of an ’SC fan – that’s where I went to school, so I stay true to ’SC football.
20 Who is someone on the team you are particularly close to?
Klete: Those guys are all awesome. In a way, I wish I could be in school with them. They are all the same age and have classes together – and many of them live together – I’m not as close to them in terms of being around them as much. But I really enjoy the company of all of them, and love hanging out with them. There’s not a guy on the team I don’t like. They’re great – it’s definitely a good environment.
