The Ready State Podcast

The Ready State Podcast


Nathan Adrian: From Podium to Purpose: 8 Medals Across 3 Olympics, Cancer, and Rebuilding Identity After Sport

May 29, 2025

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What happens after you win five gold medals in the Olympics?


In this episode, 5 time Olympic Gold Medalist swimmer and entrepreneur, Nathan Adrian, opens up about the pressure of elite performance, the shock of a cancer diagnosis, and what it’s like to rebuild identity after sport.


He’s an Olympic icon, but also a husband, father, and now co-founder of a company that helps young athletes learn to love swimming. This isn’t just about performance — it’s about purpose, transition, and what it means to evolve.


Whether you’re chasing big goals, recovering from a setback, or trying to figure out what comes next — this episode hits home.


What You'll Learn in This Episode
  • How Nathan trained for Olympic success (and mental longevity)
  • What .01 seconds taught him about belief and pressure
  • Why missing the 2008 team became his breakthrough
  • How cancer changed his priorities and sense of identity
  • The mindset shifts required to move beyond the Olympics and elite sport
  • Why fun, community, and mentorship are the next frontier


Sponsors

This episode of The Ready State Podcast is brought to you by Laird Superfood, The World As You'll Know It podcast, Momentous, and LMNT.