Two-time Olympic champion Klete Keller performed a life-saving rescue off the coast of Florida on Wednesday after witnessing a jet ski crash while on his honeymoon.
Keller and his wife, Lindsey, were on a rented pontoon at Choctawhatchee Bay when they saw a jet skier launched into the air about 100 yards away. Another jet skier signaled for help, so they got closer and realized the teenage boy was facedown, motionless.
Keller jumped off the boat, swam to the victim, and started giving him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation while treading water.
“He just looked so alone and so vulnerable face down not moving — I was terrified for him,” Keller said. “I probably gave him 10 breaths and probably on about the ninth breath, I said, ‘God, please save this boy.’ And I gave him one more breath, and his eyes opened. He was looking straight up at the sky and I’ll never forget his eyes — they were the shade of green. I was just so relieved that he opened his eyes and he started moving.
“I really felt a responsibility to this kid,” the 42-year-old added. “He felt like my child and I really felt an intimate connection to him.”
Keller recently finished serving a six-month home detention sentence for storming the U.S. Capitol with fellow Donald Trump supporters on Jan. 6, 2021. The U.S. government had requested a 10-month sentence in federal prison for Keller.
A three-time Olympian, Keller won two gold medals as a member of the American men’s 800-meter freestyle relay team at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008. He also picked up a silver in the event at Sydney 2000 in addition to a pair of bronze medals in the 400 free at Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004. He competed collegiately at USC for two years from 2000-01 before turning professional. Until 2007, he trained at Michigan’s Club Wolverine under coaches Jon Urbanchek and later Bob Bowman.
Ummmmm…….actually no comment.
Fight on Klete.
Hope all is well regrouping.
Every time I see this picture on the feed I go “oh no not this guy again.”
Somewhat crazy to think if he had been serving a 10 month ban – maybe that boy would not be alive today.
Glad the boy is ok and alive – and glad Klete was there when he was.
Psh staged! He’s just trying to earn some good grace back
It’s just this type of bs thought process that led to people like Klete feeling like they should storm the capital. People with zero knowledge telling everyone something is a fraud.
He’ll be on the Hawke podcast next week
Redemption.
Yea saving a life is definitely more than enough for this guy to redeem himself lol