Klete Keller

Keller was born March 21, 1982,{{cite web |title=Klete Keller |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/93855 |website=Olympedia |publisher=OlyMADmen |access-date=January 13, 2021}} in Las Vegas to mother Karen and father Kelly. Both parents were intercollegiate athletes at Arizona State University in Tempe; his father played basketball and his mother swam. Klete's older sister, Kelsey, swam for University of Washington, and his younger sister, Kalyn, was on the swim team for the University of Southern California (USC) and competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics.

Klete Keller grew up in Phoenix{{cite web |title=ESPN.com - OLY/SUMMER04 - athlete |url=http://www.espn.com/olympics/summer04/athlete?athleteId=4203 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=January 13, 2021}} and graduated from Arcadia High School in Phoenix in 2000.{{cite news |last1=Falduto |first1=Brad |title=Arcadia graduate anchors winning freestyle team |url=https://www.eastvalleytribune.com/news/arcadia-graduate-anchors-winning-freestyle-team/article_39bfa7e0-4296-5635-aa98-a6357a65c309.html |website=East Valley Tribune |access-date=January 13, 2021 |language=en |date=August 17, 2004}}

Per Jon Urbanchek, who coached Keller in his later swimming career, "he had a rough time at home". Others have corroborated that Keller had a dysfunctional home life.{{cite magazine |last1=Forde |first1=Pat |title=How Did Klete Keller Veer From His Lane? |url=https://www.si.com/olympics/2021/02/04/klete-keller-olympic-podium-to-capitol-siege-daily-cover |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=February 15, 2021 |language=en-us |date=February 4, 2021}}

At the 1998 Summer Nationals, Keller was named "Rookie of the Meet". At the 1999 U.S. National Swimming Championships, he won bronze in the 1500m freestyle, behind Chris Thompson and Erik Vendt.{{cite news |title=Swimming |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/235558525 |via=Newspapers.com |newspaper=The Orlando Sentinel |date=April 2, 1999 |access-date=February 25, 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription}} Keller also competed in the 400-meter freestyle, placing fifth behind Chad Carvin, Erik Vendt, Uğur Taner, and Mark Warkentin.{{cite news |last1=Robb |first1=Sharon |title=Carvin comes back a winner |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/239296692 |via=Newspapers.com |newspaper=South Florida Sun Sentinel |access-date=February 25, 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=April 1, 1999}}

Keller won gold in the 5k open water race at the 1999 Phillips 66 National Championships with a time of 46:51, earning him a spot in the same event the 1999 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Sydney.{{cite news |last1=Caro |first1=Paul |title=Family collects medals on its summer vacation |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/124477626 |via=Newspapers.com |newspaper=Arizona Republic |access-date=February 25, 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=August 13, 1999}} In the 5k open water race at the 1999 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, Keller won gold with a time of 55:42.{{cite web |title=1999 Pan Pacific Championships |url=https://www.usaswimming.org/docs/default-source/eventsdocuments/meet-results/international-event-results/pan-pacs/1999-pan-pacific-championships.pdf |publisher=USA Swimming |access-date=February 25, 2021}} Keller was also a member of the 1999 United States National Junior Team.

Keller attended the University of Southern California for two years from 2000 to 2001, but left school to focus on swimming.{{cite web |url=http://www.usolympicteam.com/26_802.htm |title=Keller, Klete |publisher=United States Olympic Committee |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516115231/http://usolympicteam.com/26_802.htm |archive-date=May 16, 2008}} While at USC, he won multiple individual and relay Pac-10 and NCAA Championships in the 200, 500 and 1,650-yard freestyle, as well as freestyle relays.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} He was a four-time NCAA champion.{{cite web |title=2008 Olympic Swim Team MEDIA GUIDE |url=https://www.usaswimming.org/docs/default-source/mediadocuments/media-guides/olympic-games/2008-olympic-games-media-guide.pdf |publisher=USA Swimming |access-date=February 25, 2021 |date=2008}} In both 2000 and 2001, Keller was named to the United States swimming "All-Star Team".

Keller won a bronze medal in the 400 meter freestyle at the 2000 Summer Olympics. He was one of many 2000 Olympic swimming medalists from The Race Club World Team, a summer swimming camp in Florida.{{cite web |url=http://www.theraceclub.net/mission-statement/history/world-team/ |title=The World Team |publisher=The Race Club |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820233114/http://theraceclub.com/mission-statement/history-of-swim-camps/world-team/ |archive-date=August 20, 2016}} Also in 2000, he won the summer national title in the 400 meter freestyle. In 2001, Keller won the spring national title in the 200 meter freestyle. Later that year at the World Aquatics Championships, Keller won an individual bronze medal in the 200 meter freestyle and a team bronze medal in the 4 x 200 meter freestyle relay.

Keller left USC after his sophomore season, when he went professional, forfeiting his final two years of collegiate sports eligibility.{{cite web |title=Klete Keller Returning to USC |url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/klete-keller-returning-to-usc/ |website=Swimming World News |access-date=November 12, 2022 |date=April 28, 2007}} Afterward, he trained until 2007 at Club Wolverine, run at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, under Jon Urbanchek and later Bob Bowman.{{cite news |title=Klete Keller goes, sis stays |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/363126785 |via=Newspapers.com |work=Detroit Free Press |access-date=January 14, 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=April 27, 2007}}{{cite web |last1=Lord |first1=Craig |title=When Judging Klete Keller In A Political Storm, Don't Ignore The Bruises Of An Olympic Bubble Burst |url=https://www.stateofswimming.com/when-judging-klete-keller-in-a-political-storm-dont-ignore-the-bruises-of-an-olympic-bubble-burst/ |website=StateOfSwimming |access-date=November 12, 2022 |date=January 13, 2021 |archive-date=November 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112161028/https://www.stateofswimming.com/when-judging-klete-keller-in-a-political-storm-dont-ignore-the-bruises-of-an-olympic-bubble-burst/ |url-status=dead }} Urbanchek was the coach of the three Olympic swimming teams on which Keller competed. Late into his swimming career, Keller cited Urbanchek as his greatest influence, remarking, "He's the type of man I want to be like when I'm older." After going professional, Keller competed in two more Summer Olympics, in 2004 and 2008. Twice during his career, he was the cover athlete of Swimming World.{{cite web |title=Missy Franklin Graces Cover of October 2011 Swimming World Magazine |url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/missy-franklin-graces-cover-of-october-2011-swimming-world-magazine/ |website=Swimming World News |access-date=January 13, 2021 |date=October 1, 2011}} In 2015, the Reno Gazette-Journal named Keller as the most decorated Olympian ever born in Nevada.{{cite news |title=10 Best Athletes Born in Nevada |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/136438015 |via=Newspapers.com |newspaper=Reno Gazette-Journal |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=November 1, 2015}} In addition to the two times he made the team during his collegiate career, Keller, Keller was named to the United States Swimming "All-Star Team" four more times after going professional (in 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2006). Towards the end of his swimming career, Keller was reported to train for five hours every day, six days per week.

At the 2002 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, Keller won an individual bronze medal in the 400 meter freestyle race and a team silver medal in the 4 x 200 meter freestyle relay.{{cite web |title=8/24/2002 - 8/24/2002 Yokohama, Japan PAN PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS Yokohama, Japan August 24-29 DAY ONE: August 24, 2002 Semifinals and Finals Results |url=https://www.usaswimming.org/docs/default-source/eventsdocuments/meet-results/international-event-results/pan-pacs/2002-pan-pacific-championships.pdf |website=www.usaswimming.org/ |publisher=USA Swimming |access-date=November 12, 2022 |date=2002}}{{cite web |title=Pan Pacific Swimming Championships |url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/sport/swimppc.htm |website=www.gbrathletics.com |access-date=November 12, 2022}} At the 2002 FINA Short Course World Championships, he won gold in the 200 meter freestyle and the 200 400 meter freestyle, as well as bronze in the 800 meter freestyle. He also won the summer 2002 national title in the 400 meter freestyle and was named to the United States Swimming "All-Star Team". At the 2003 World Aquatics championships, Keller was on the gold-winning American team in the 800 m freestyle.Worlds 2003 results: [http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=000103050034000000FFFFFFFFFFFF01 Men's 800 Free Relay -- final] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112210609/https://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=000103050034000000FFFFFFFFFFFF01 |date=November 12, 2022 }} published by Omega Timing (official timer) on July 23, 2003. Retrieved June 26, 2013. He placed fifth in the 400 meter freestyle.Worlds 2003 results: [http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=000103050009000000FFFFFFFFFFFF01 Men's 400 Free -- Final] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015002348/http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=000103050009000000FFFFFFFFFFFF01 |date=October 15, 2018 }} from Omega Timing (official timer). Published July 20, 2003; retrieved June 6, 2013. He competed in the 200 meter freestyle, being eliminated after placing last in the semifinals.Worlds 2003 results: [http://www.omegatiming.com/swimming/racearchives/2003/barcelona2003/F74_ResSummary_210_Semifinal_Men_200_Free.pdf Men's 200m Freestyle Semifinals] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090407070425/http://www.omegatiming.com/swimming/racearchives/2003/barcelona2003/F74_ResSummary_210_Semifinal_Men_200_Free.pdf |date=April 7, 2009 }}, from OmegaTiming.com (official timer of the 2003 Worlds); Retrieved February 11, 2010. Also in 2003, Keller won the spring national title in the 400 meter freestyle.

During the 4×200-meter freestyle relay at the Athens Summer Olympics in 2004, Keller held off a charging Ian Thorpe in the anchor leg to win the race by 0.13 seconds.{{cite web |title=Ricky Berens |url=https://swimswam.com/bio/ricky-berens/ |website=SwimSwam |access-date=January 13, 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Harris |first1=Craig |last2=Metcalfe |first2=Jeff |title=Reports identify Olympic swimmer, ex-Phoenix resident Klete Keller among Capitol rioters |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2021/01/12/olympic-gold-medal-swimmer-klete-keller-capitol-riot/6629103002/ |website=The Arizona Republic |access-date=January 13, 2021 |date=January 12, 2021}} It was the first time Australia had been beaten in the event in over seven years. In January 2016, Andy Ross of the magazine Swimming World named it as one of the greatest Olympic relays of all-time.{{cite web |last1=Ross |first1=Andy |title=4 of the Greatest Olympic Relays of All Time |url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/4-of-the-greatest-olympic-relays-of-all-time/ |website=Swimming World News |access-date=January 13, 2021 |date=January 28, 2016}} The American relay of Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Peter Vanderkaay, and Keller were undefeated in competition from those Olympics onward.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} Vanderkaay, Larsen Jensen, Erik Vendt, and Keller made up the core of the premier American mid-distance/distance freestyle swimmers.{{When|date=January 2021}}{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} Keller also won bronze in 400 meter freestyle.{{cite news|title=Thorpe, Hackett quinella 400 m free |url=http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200408/s1176720.htm |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=August 15, 2004 |access-date=November 16, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051104201148/http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200408/s1176720.htm |archive-date=November 4, 2005 }} At the Olympics, Keller placed fourth in the 200 meter freestyle.{{cite web |title=Olympedia – 200 metres Freestyle, Men |url=https://www.olympedia.org/results/8772 |website=www.olympedia.org |access-date=November 12, 2022}} Also in 2004, Keller was named to the United States swimming "All-Star Team".

In 2005, Keller was ranked 7th in the world in the 200m freestyle, 4th in the 400 meter freestyle, and 78th in the 100 meter freestyle. At the 2005 World Aquatics championships, he won a gold in the 4×200 m freestyle. Also in 2005, he won the United States summer national title in the 800 meter freestyle. In 2005, he won the summer national title in the 400 meter freestyle and was on the United States swimming "All-Star" team. In his 2006 season, at the U.S. championships he achieved the top time in the world in the 400 freestyle (3:44.27). For the season, he was ranked 1st in the world in the 400 meter freestyle, 3rd for the 200 meter freestyle, and 52nd for the 100 meter freestyle. At the 2006 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, Keller won three medals. He won gold in the 200 meter freestyle, was a member of the gold-winning United States team in the 4 x 200 meter freestyle relay, and won bronze in the 400 meter freestyle. Keller also competed in the 100 meter freestyle (coming eleventh in the heats),{{cite web |title=Results of the 100-metre freestyle heats at 2006 Pan Pacific |work=OmegaTiming |date=August 18, 2006 |url=http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=000106050011000000FFFFFFFFFFFF01 |accessdate=January 6, 2014}} and the 50 meter freestyle (coming 32nd in the heats).{{cite web | title = Results of the 50-metre freestyle heats at 2006 Pan Pacific | work = OmegaTiming | date = August 20, 2006 | url = http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=000106050030000000FFFFFFFFFFFF01 |accessdate = January 6, 2014}} In the same year, he won the 2006 summer national title in the 400 meter freestyle, won bronze at the United States National Championships in the 200 meter freestyle, and was named to the United States swimming "All-Star Team".

In 2007, Keller left Ann Arbor and returned to USC to finish school and train with the Trojan Swim Club under coach Dave Salo.{{cite web |date=April 25, 2002 |title=Exclusive Interview with Klete Keller |url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/exclusive-interview-with-klete-keller/ |access-date=January 12, 2021 |website=Swimming World News |language=en-US}} After returning to USC, Keller completed his bachelor degree. Originally he studied science and public policy in college, and at one point in college he was studying construction management. He finally received a degree in public policy and real estate development, having attended both USC and Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti east of Ann Arbor.{{cite web |title=KLETE KELLER |url=https://www.teamusa.org/Athletes/KE/Klete-Keller |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301085912/http://www.teamusa.org/Athletes/KE/Klete-Keller |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 1, 2014 |publisher=Team USA |access-date=January 13, 2021}}{{cite web |title=Klete Keller |url=https://www.theolympicagent.com/kletekeller |website=The Olympic Agent |access-date=January 13, 2021 |archive-date=January 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113232243/https://www.theolympicagent.com/kletekeller |url-status=dead}} He later said that ahead of the 2008 Summer Olympics, he had considered going to Arizona State University to study criminology. In the 2007 World Rankings, Keller was ranked 18th in the 400 meter freestyle, 49th in the 200 meter freestyle, and 78th in the 100 meter freestyle. At the 2007 World Aquatics Championships in Melbourne, Australia he was on the gold-winning team in the 4 x 200 meter freestyle relay. He individually placed tenth in the 400 meter freestyle and 18th in the 200 meter freestyle. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Keller won gold in the 4 x 200 meter freestyle relay.

Keller retired from swimming after the 2008 Summer Olympics. He initially held a series of jobs in sales and finance. From October 2009 through November 2010, Keller worked at the Ann Arbor, Michigan office of Northwestern Mutual Investment Services.{{cite web |title=BrokerCheck Report KLETE KELLER CRD# 5714741 |url=https://files.brokercheck.finra.org/individual/individual_5714741.pdf |website=brokercheck.finra.org |access-date=July 28, 2021}} From June 2011 through November 2012, he worked for Multi-Bank Securities in Southfield, Michigan west of Warren. In February 2013, he began working at the Memphis, Tennessee, office of Cantor Fitzgerald as a debt trader.{{cite web |last1=La Roche |first1=Julia |title=Cantor Fitzgerald Has Hired Olympic Gold Medalist Swimmer Klete Keller |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/cantor-fitzgerald-hire-klete-2013-2 |website=Business Insider |access-date=January 13, 2021 |date=February 14, 2013}} He left the firm in February 2014. Commenting on that time in 2018, Keller said, "Swimmer had been my identity for most of my life, and then I quickly transitioned to other roles and never gave myself time to get comfortable with them. I really struggled with things. I didn't enjoy my work, and that unhappiness and lack of identity started creeping into my marriage." In an interview years later for a podcast for the Olympic Channel, Keller commented on his performance as an employee at this time, saying that he had set high expectations for himself, but had been "entitled" in the workplace, as well as a bad employee.{{cite web |title=Olympic gold to homeless: Why you should never give up with Klete Keller |url=https://www.olympicchannel.com/en/original-series/detail/olympic-channel-podcast/olympic-channel-podcast-season-season-1/episodes/olympic-gold-to-homeless-why-you-should-never-give-up-with-klete-keller/ |website=Olympic Channel |access-date=January 13, 2021}}

In 2018, Keller moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado south of Denver{{cite web |date=August 28, 2018 |title=Dog sitting gone wild: Owner comes home to find shirtless men, lube in living room |url=https://www.fox21news.com/news/local/dog-sitting-gone-wild-owner-comes-home-to-find-shirtless-men-lube-in-living-room/ |access-date=January 12, 2021 |website=FOX21 News Colorado |language=en-US}} where he began a career as a real estate broker, being employed as an independent contractor with the real estate firm Hoff & Leigh.{{cite web |last=Castronuovo |first=Celine |date=January 12, 2021 |title=Gold medalist Olympic swimmer recognized amid Capitol mob |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/news/533891-former-olympian-recognized-amid-capitol-mob |access-date=January 12, 2021 |website=The Hill |language=en}}{{cite web |last1=Isaac |first1=O'Dell |title=Former Olympic swimmer and Colorado Springs realtor identified at pro-Trump Capitol riot, publications report |url=https://gazette.com/news/former-olympic-swimmer-and-colorado-springs-resident-identified-at-pro-trump-capitol-riot-publications-report/article_89b1327e-5536-11eb-8021-1b417b26b188.html |website=Colorado Springs Gazette |access-date=January 13, 2021 |language=en |date=January 12, 2021}} In 2021, when SwimSwam contacted them for their January 11 story reporting Keller's involvement in the storming of the Capitol, Hoff & Leigh confirmed that Keller was still an employee of the firm. The SwimSwam reporter who broke the story commented in the article that the firm "seemed unaware of the Capitol video or Keller's possible involvement" in the attack. Later that day, the firm erased all mentions of Keller from its website. On January 12, 2021, Hoff & Leigh released a statement saying that Keller no longer worked for the company, having resigned, and that they did not condone his actions. According to a January 2022 SwimSwam report, Keller returned to work with Hoff & Leigh in May 2021.{{cite news |last1=Fenno |first1=Nathan |title=Inside Klete Keller's fall from Olympic gold to the Capitol riot |url=https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2022-01-04/olympic-swimmer-klete-keller-capitol-riot-jan-6-anniversary |access-date=April 12, 2022 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=January 4, 2022}}

{{2021 United States Capitol attack|expanded=Notable people}}

Keller was identified as a participant in the 2021 United States Capitol attack, where he was seen inside the Capitol rotunda in a crowd of people clashing with police officers.{{cite web |url=https://swimswam.com/olympic-gold-medalist-in-us-capitol-during-clashes-video-appears-to-show/ |title=Olympic Gold Medalist Klete Keller in US Capitol During Clashes, Video Shows |date=January 11, 2021 |website=SwimSwam}} Keller's presence was reported by several people who saw a video posted by conservative outlet Townhall. Some of the people who recognized Keller in the video said that he had frequently posted pro-Trump content on his social-media accounts. Keller deleted his social-media accounts after being identified.{{cite news |last1=Crouse |first1=Karen |last2=Mather |first2=Victor |title=Olympic Gold Medalist Was Part of Crowd That Invaded Capitol |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/12/sports/olympics/klete-keller-capitol-trump.html?action=click&algo=bandit-all-surfaces&block=trending_recirc&fellback=false&imp_id=310990342&impression_id=ff9d01a2-5501-11eb-86d2-1f6cd95ef287&index=2&pgtype=Article®ion=footer&req_id=779236138&surface=most-popular&variant=0_bandit-all-surfaces |website=The New York Times |access-date=January 12, 2021 |date=January 12, 2021}} He was recognized, in part, because of his height, the fact that he was wearing a U.S. Olympic team jacket, and that his face was unobstructed in the video.{{cite web |last1=Fernandez |first1=Gabriel |title=Olympic gold medalist swimmer Klete Keller among Trump supporters that stormed U.S. Capitol |url=https://www.cbssports.com/olympics/news/olympic-gold-medalist-swimmer-klete-keller-among-trump-supporters-that-stormed-u-s-capitol/ |work=CBS Sports |access-date=January 13, 2021 |language=en |date=January 12, 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Crouse |first1=Karen |last2=Mather |first2=Victor |title=Olympic Gold Medalist Was Part of Crowd That Invaded Capitol |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/12/sports/olympics/klete-keller-capitol-trump.html?action=click&algo=bandit-all-surfaces&block=trending_recirc&fellback=false&imp_id=310990342&impression_id=ff9d01a2-5501-11eb-86d2-1f6cd95ef287&index=2&pgtype=Article®ion=footer&req_id=779236138&surface=most-popular&variant=0_bandit-all-surfaces |website=The New York Times |access-date=January 12, 2021 |date=January 12, 2021}}

On January 13, 2021, for his involvement in the storming of the Capitol, the FBI charged Keller with obstructing law enforcement engaged in official duties, unlawfully entering Capitol grounds, and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.{{cite web |title=Olympic gold medalist swimmer Klete Keller charged for alleged role in Capitol riot |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/olympic-gold-medalist-swimmer-klete-keller-charged-role/story?id=75223549 |website=ABC News |access-date=January 13, 2021 |language=en |date=January 13, 2021}} For those charges, he originally faced up to 15.5 years in prison.{{cite news |last1=Sheinin |first1=Dave |last2=Maese |first2=Rick |title=From Olympic medalist to Capitol rioter: The fall of Klete Keller |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/01/15/klete-keller-capitol-olympic-swimming/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=January 15, 2021 |date=January 15, 2021}} He surrendered himself the next day{{cite web |last1=Harris |first1=Craig |title=Former Arizona Olympian Klete Keller, charged in U.S. Capitol riot, turns himself in to feds |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2021/01/14/olympian-klete-keller-part-capitol-riot-turns-himself-feds/4164841001/ |website=The Arizona Republic |access-date=January 15, 2021 |date=January 14, 2021}} and federal agents executed a search and seizure warrant on his home.{{cite web |title=Federal agents searched Klete Keller's home on day he was arrested |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/story/2021-02-23/klete-keller-swimmer-federal-agents-searched-home-on-day-of-arrest |last=Fenno |first=Nathan |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=February 25, 2021 |date=February 24, 2021}} Keller was released from custody the same day on a personal recognizance bond. A judge ordered him not to travel to Washington D.C. anytime before January 21, the day after the inauguration of Joe Biden. After that date, the judge's orders allowed him to travel to Washington, D.C., for court appearances and to meet with lawyers, but required him to ask permission before making any trips to North Carolina, where his children live.{{cite news |title=Ex-U.S. Olympian Keller released from custody |url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/30713520/ex-us-olympic-gold-medalist-klete-keller-released-federal-custody |publisher=ESPN |access-date=January 16, 2021 |agency=Associated Press |language=en |date=January 14, 2021}} A grand jury would decide whether more serious charges were warranted.{{cite news |last1=Maese |first1=Rick |title=Grand jury beefs up charges against Olympian Klete Keller related to Capitol riot |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/02/10/grand-jury-klete-keller-capitol-riot/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=February 12, 2021 |date=February 10, 2021}} On February 10, the grand jury indicted Keller on seven charges, including civil disorder, obstructing an official proceeding, entering a restricted building, disorderly conduct in a restricted building, and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building. The charges had a maximum sentence of nearly 30 years.{{cite web |last1=Burke |first1=Minyvonne |title=Olympic swimmer Klete Keller indicted on additional charges in Capitol riot |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/olympic-swimmer-klete-keller-indicted-additional-charges-capitol-riot-n1257619 |website=NBC News |access-date=February 12, 2021 |language=en |date=February 12, 2021}} On March 9, 2021, Keller pleaded not guilty to seven charges, including civil disorder and witness tampering.{{cite web |last1=Schad |first1=Tom |title=Former Olympic swimmer Klete Keller pleads not guilty to charges from U.S. Capitol riot |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2021/03/09/klete-keller-ex-swimmer-pleads-not-guilty-u-s-capitol-riot-case/6929864002/ |website=USA TODAY |access-date=March 15, 2021 |date=March 9, 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Hosenball |first1=Mark |title=Former U.S. Olympian nears plea deal in Capitol riots case |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/michigan-man-pleads-guilty-us-capitol-riot-charge-sentenced-2021-08-04/ |website=Reuters |access-date=August 20, 2021 |language=en |date=August 4, 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Fenno |first1=Nathan |title=Klete Keller negotiating a plea bargain in U.S. Capitol riot case |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/story/2021-06-04/olympic-swimmer-klete-keller-could-get-plea-bargain-storming-the-capitol |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=June 6, 2021 |date=June 4, 2021}}{{Cite web |url=https://swimswam.com/klete-keller-prepared-to-take-plea-deal-for-jan-6-capitol-charges/ |title=Klete Keller Prepared To Take Plea Deal For Jan. 6 Capitol Charges |date=September 2, 2021 |website=SwimSwam}}

On September 29, 2021, as part of a plea bargain, Keller pleaded guilty to a felony count of obstructing an official proceeding before Congress. He also pledged to cooperate with any continuing investigation into the attack. The felony carried a maximum potential sentence of 20 years. In his guilty plea, he admitted to spending roughly an hour in the United States Capitol building. He admitted that, in the Capitol Rotunda, he shouted "Fuck Nancy Pelosi!" and "Fuck Chuck Schumer!", captured video and photographs, and "jerked his elbow" to avoid law enforcement officers that were trying to eject him from the building. He admitted that he later destroyed a phone and a memory card which he had brought with him to the Capitol, and threw away the jacket he wore at the time.{{cite news |last1=Draper |first1=Kevin |title=Klete Keller, a 3-Time Olympian, Pleads Guilty in Capitol Riot Case |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/29/sports/olympics/klete-keller-pleads-guilty-capitol-riot.html |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=September 29, 2021 |date=September 29, 2021}}{{cite news |title=Olympic gold medalist pleads guilty in Capitol riot and will help prosecutors in future cases |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/29/politics/swimmer-keller-capitol-riot/index.html |work=CNN |access-date=September 29, 2021 |date=September 29, 2021}}

In December 2022, Keller was free on bond pending his sentencing.{{cite web |last1=Jojola |first1=Jeremy |title=Here are the 12 people with Colorado ties that have been charged in the Capitol riot |url=https://www.9news.com/article/news/investigations/coloradans-us-captiol-riot/73-83f3ecfc-2fd6-47b8-b5bf-449ffc47f6ea |website=KUSA.com |access-date=13 December 2022 |date=6 January 2022}} He faced 21 to 27 months in prison{{cite web |last1=Butzer |first1=Stephanie |title=Woodland Park man pleads guilty to charge in connection with Jan. 6, 2021 riot at US Capitol |url=https://www.denver7.com/news/local-news/woodland-park-man-pleads-guilty-to-charge-in-connection-with-jan-6-2021-riot-at-us-capitol |website=Denver 7 Colorado News |access-date=15 March 2023 |language=en |date=7 March 2023}} and sentencing was set for July 7, 2023.{{cite web |last1=Overend |first1=Riley |title=Olympic Champion Klete Keller's Sentencing Date for Capitol Riot Pushed Back to July |url=https://swimswam.com/olympic-champion-klete-kellers-sentencing-date-for-capitol-riot-pushed-back-to-july/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511153236/https://swimswam.com/olympic-champion-klete-kellers-sentencing-date-for-capitol-riot-pushed-back-to-july/ |archive-date=11 May 2023 |url-status=live |website=SwimSwam |access-date=8 May 2023 |date=29 April 2023}} On June 15, 2023, Keller requested a postponement of his sentencing hearing so he could "further facilitate" his cooperation with the ongoing investigation into the Capitol attack.{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Joseph |title=Klete Keller Requests Postponement Of Capitol Riot Sentencing |url=https://news.snbc13.com/two-time-olympic-gold-winner-klete-keller-requests-postponement-of-capitol-riot-sentencing/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621141117/https://news.snbc13.com/two-time-olympic-gold-winner-klete-keller-requests-postponement-of-capitol-riot-sentencing/ |archive-date=21 June 2023 |url-status=live |website=news.snbc13.com |access-date=21 June 2023 |date=15 June 2023}} Sentencing was postponed until December 1, 2023.{{cite web |last1=Overend |first1=Riley |title=Olympic Champion Klete Keller's Sentencing Date Delayed Again Until December |url=https://swimswam.com/olympic-champion-klete-kellers-sentencing-date-delayed-again-until-december/ |website=SwimSwam |access-date=21 November 2023 |date=18 July 2023}} On November 17, the U.S. government requested a 10-month sentence for Keller, shorter than the guideline of 21–27 months in similar cases.{{cite web |last1=Sutherland |first1=James |title=Feds Request 10-Month Prison Sentence For Olympic Swimmer Klete Keller in January 6 Case |url=https://swimswam.com/feds-request-10-month-prison-sentence-olympic-swimmer-for-klete-keller-in-january-6-case/ |website=SwimSwam.com |access-date=27 November 2023 |date=22 November 2023}} On December 4, 2023, Keller received a sentence of six months home detention and three years probation.{{cite web |last1= Debusmann |first1=Bernd Jr |title=Klete Keller: Olympic gold medallist spared jail over Capitol riot |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-67597397 |website=BBC |access-date=December 5, 2023 |date=December 1, 2023}}

On January 20, 2025, Keller received a full pardon by President Donald Trump.{{Cite web |last=Schad |first=Tom |title=Olympian Klete Keller calls pardon for Jan. 6 actions 'an amazing feeling of relief' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2025/01/21/klete-keller-pardon-january-6-donald-trump/77861361007/ |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}

Ahead of the 2004 Summer Olympics, Keller reportedly suffered a period of insomnia and malaise, which resulted in an "emotional breakdown".

In 2008, ahead of the Olympics, Keller and Cari Carr got engaged.{{cite web |last1=K |first1=Disha |title=Who is Klete Keller's ex-wife? Olympian's family explored |url=https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/09/30/klete-keller-wife/ |website=HITC |access-date=November 12, 2022 |date=September 30, 2021}} They married and had three children. Keller and Carr divorced. The two went through a custody dispute during the divorce.

In 2018, Keller revealed that in January 2014, after going through both his divorce and becoming unemployed, he had become homeless and lived out of his car for about ten months.{{cite web |last1=Johnsojn |first1=Annika |title=Olympic Gold Medalist Klete Keller in US Capitol During Clashes, Video Shows |url=https://swimswam.com/olympic-gold-medalist-in-us-capitol-during-clashes-video-appears-to-show/ |website=SwimSwam |access-date=January 12, 2021 |date=January 11, 2021}}{{cite web |title=Post-Swimming Lessons Give Klete Keller New Perspective |url=https://www.usaswimming.org/news/2018/06/22/post-swimming-lessons-give-klete-keller-new-perspective |website=usaswimming.org |publisher=USA Swimming |date=June 22, 2018 |access-date=January 13, 2021 |archive-date=January 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112185139/https://www.usaswimming.org/news/2018/06/22/post-swimming-lessons-give-klete-keller-new-perspective |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |last1=Zaccardi |first1=Nick |title=He won a gold medal with Michael Phelps, then he lived in his car |url=https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2018/06/22/klete-keller-swimming/ |website=OlympicTalk {{!}} NBC Sports |access-date=January 12, 2021 |date=June 22, 2018}} He also said that, for four years, he lacked visitation rights with his children, making it unable to see them, despite living only minutes away from them. In an interview he conducted in the spring of 2014, he said that he was no longer certain of the whereabouts of three of his Olympic medals.{{cite web |last1=Zaccardi |first1=Nick |title=Catching up with Klete Keller |url=https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2014/04/02/catching-up-with-klete-keller-swimming-olympics/ |website=OlympicTalk {{!}} NBC Sports |access-date=January 12, 2021 |date=April 2, 2014}} In the same interview, Keller said that he had failed to find similar successes in his endeavors after retiring from swimming. He said that he made the mistake of not having the foresight to plan for his post-swimming career, and felt somewhat "bitter" both towards himself and his sport. He expressed regret for having continued swimming for another four years after the 2004 Olympics, saying that he believed, in retrospect, that he should have retired after the 2004 Summer Olympics and gone back to school.

In 2018, Keller credited his sister Kalyn with having assisted him with what he saw as a personal comeback from his low-point of homelessness, saying that she had taken him in. During that time he taught swimming lessons and operated swim clinics. He also lived with his grandmother at one point. About the time he moved to Colorado Springs, Keller regained visitation with his children. {{As of|2021}}, his children lived in North Carolina and he visits with them. In August 2018, Keller was in the news for an incident in which a dog sitter he had hired hosted a threesome in his house without permission from Keller. Keller walked into his house finding strangers in a state of undress.{{cite web |title=Dog sitting gone wild: Owner comes home to find shirtless men, lube in living room |url=https://www.fox21news.com/news/local/dog-sitting-gone-wild-owner-comes-home-to-find-shirtless-men-lube-in-living-room/ |website=FOX21 News Colorado |access-date=February 25, 2021 |date=August 28, 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Kitching |first1=Chris |title=Olympian comes home to find dog sitter with two shirtless men, lube and camera |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/olympic-gold-medallist-comes-home-13162331 |newspaper=The Mirror |access-date=February 25, 2021 |language=en |date=August 30, 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Kell |first1=Chase |title=Former Olympian hires dog walker, finds two shirtless men on his couch |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/former-olympian-hires-dog-walker-finds-two-shirtless-men-couch-150103343.html |website=sports.yahoo.com |publisher=Yahoo! Sports |access-date=February 25, 2021 |date=August 30, 2018}}

After his participation in the storming of the United States Capitol, friends of Keller's described him as a strong political conservative and a gun enthusiast, who had expressed increasingly strong support for Donald Trump on his social media in the previous years, particularly in the year immediately prior. Keller had previously attended the "Million MAGA March", a pro-Trump 2020–21 United States election protest held in Washington D.C., in late November 2020.{{cite web |last1=Crouse |first1=Karen |title='I Let You Down': Klete Keller's Path From Olympics to Capitol Riot |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/18/sports/olympics/klete-keller-capitol-riot.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=January 18, 2021 |date=January 18, 2021}} After Keller's participation in the storming of the capitol, his ex-wife, then known as Cari Carr Sherrill, said that she no longer had a personal relationship with Keller, and remarked that she believed that "during and since his swimming career, he's had many personal issues he's chosen not to address."

In 2024, Keller married his second wife, Lindsey. During their honeymoon, while on a pontoon boat off the coast of Florida in Choctawhatchee Bay, Keller rescued an 18-year old high school student from drowning after a severe jet ski crash. Keller, who witnessed the accident from the boat, swam to the unconscious teenager and performed lifesaving measures while keeping him above water.{{cite news |last1=Overend |first1=Riley |title=Olympic Champion Klete Keller, 42, Performs Life-Saving Rescue After Jet Ski Crash |url=https://swimswam.com/olympic-champion-klete-keller-42-performs-life-saving-rescue-after-jet-ski-crash/ |access-date=20 January 2025 |publisher=SwimSwam |date=2 August 2024}}

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Category:1982 births

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