133. John Naber: 4-time Gold Medalist

The July 19, 1976 issue of Sports Illustrated landed on newsstands just days before the Montreal Summer Olympics, with a cover that perfectly captured America's hopes. There was marathon legend Frank Shorter, looking to defend the gold medal he'd won in Munich after putting all his focus on the marathon. There was 19-year-old swimming star Shirley Babashoff, ready to take on the seemingly unbeatable East German women. And there was Indiana basketball standout Scott May, hoping to help the U.S. reclaim Olympic gold after the infamous ending to the 1972 championship game. Inside, the magazine previewed a Games already overshadowed by political boycotts from Taiwan and more than two dozen African nations. But history would remember Montreal for something much more uplifting: Nadia Comaneci's perfect 10s, and one of the greatest American swimming teams ever assembled headlined by a young backstroker named John Naber. John joins us this week on Past Our Prime, and trust us, he's worth the wait... even if we accidentally made him wait twice. At just 20 years old, the USC swimmer nicknamed "The Snake" became one of the breakout stars of the Montreal Games, winning four gold medals and a silver while breaking world records in the 100- and 200-meter backstroke. Along with teammates Jim Montgomery, Brian Goodell, and the rest of a legendary U.S. squad, Naber helped lead one of the most dominant Olympic performances in swimming history. The American men captured 12 of the 13 gold medals available, won 25 of the 33 individual medals, and were so dominant they routinely finished gold-silver-bronze. Naber wasn't just fast—he had flair. He bowed to the crowd, waved the American flag, and embraced the spotlight like someone who knew he was living through a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Now, about that "worth the wait" part. This is actually John's second appearance on the show because, in a masterclass of podcast production, we forgot to record the first interview. That's right—we managed to fumble an interview with a four-time Olympic gold medalist. Thankfully, John is even more gracious than he is competitive. He came back, told the stories again, and somehow made them just as good—maybe even better. He'll tell us how he nearly made the biggest blunder in Olympic history, what it felt like to set a world record with his parents watching from the stands, and why that legendary U.S. swim team became far more than a collection of stars. And because winning four gold medals apparently wasn't enough, he also humbles us with not one, but two Olympic trivia questions that prove he's still going for gold... and we're still coming up short. John Naber on the Past Our Prime podcast. Listen and download and if you feel like it… do it twice! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices