American Olympic gold medalist Lilly King ‘struck the anvil’ ahead of the Indianapolis Colts’ game on December 1 in the same stadium where she swam her final Olympic Trials meet in June.
King, an Indiana native and star at Indiana University, retired at the 2025 World Championships as one of history’s most decorated breaststrokers. She owns six Olympic medals, including three gold. That includes the 100 breaststroke at the 2016 Games in Rio.
She is also a 12-time World Champion in long course and 7-time World Champion in short course.
King is the current World Record holder in the 100 breaststroke in long course meters, as well as in the 400 medley relay, where she swam the leg of the winning U.S. team at the 2019 World Championships. She is also a former World Record holder in the 50 breaststroke.
The striking of the anvil ahead of Colts games is part of a growing national trend of teams adding ceremonial openers to football games, like banging a drum ahead of Carolina Panthers games and ringing a bell ahead of New York Giants games. The traditions mirror the ceremonial first pitch in baseball, which recognizes accomplished locals and celebrities who are fans of a given team.
The Colts lost to the Texans in that game 20-16.
The Colts’ Lucas Oil Stadium hosted the 2024 US Olympic Swimming Trials, where it saw the largest-ever crowds for a swim meet. The meet will return to Lucas Oil Stadium in 2028.
King was born in Evansville, Indiana and attended FJ Reitz High School. She grew up swimming for the Newburgh Sea Creatures.
James Wells, another former Indiana swimmer, proposed to King on television after she won a race at the 2024 Olympic Trials, and the two were married in late 2025.
Sweet.
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