Klete Keller, a former Olympic swimmer, was one of the prominent individuals facing criminal charges for his involvement in the January 6 insurrection.

On Monday, he received a pardon from incoming President Donald Trump, joining the nearly 1,600 individuals who were pardoned, and he expressed to The Washington Post that it was “such an amazing feeling of relief.”

“Getting up this morning, I thought, ‘Wow, this is finally behind me. I no longer have to report to my probation officer,'” Keller shared with the newspaper on Tuesday.

Keller’s pardon was granted a little over a year after a D.C. judge sentenced him to six months of home confinement and three years of probation for his participation in the chaotic events of January 6, 2021, where footage showed the towering Olympian unlawfully entering the U.S. Capitol wearing a Team USA jacket. The five-time Olympic medalist pleaded guilty to a felony charge of obstructing an official proceeding, with six other non-violent charges being dismissed as part of the agreement.

During Keller’s sentencing hearing in December 2023, prosecutors acknowledged his cooperation following the plea deal but sought a 10-month jail sentence. However, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon opted to spare him from jail, encouraging Keller—who competed in three Olympic Games—to spend his time sharing his experiences and expressing his remorse, particularly among youth in the community.

“I believe this is a more constructive use of your time,” Leon remarked, “(than sitting in a jail cell).”

Keller represented Team USA from 2000 to 2008, securing five medals, including two as part of relay teams. He anchored the men’s 4×200-meter freestyle team that clinched a gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics alongside legends Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte.

At 42 years old, Keller expressed sorrow for his January 6 actions during his sentencing and reiterated those feelings in his conversation with The Washington Post on Tuesday.

“I truly regret what I did that day. I love this country,” Keller mentioned. “I’m incredibly thankful that I can now look ahead.”

According to the Justice Department, nearly 1,600 individuals were charged following the January 6 riot, which resulted in injuries to 140 police officers and postponed Congress’ certification of Joe Biden’s win in the 2020 presidential election. Trump’s federal charges related to the riot were dismissed after he won the 2024 election, due to a long-standing policy that prohibits the Justice Department from prosecuting a sitting president.

Reach out to Tom Schad on social media @tomschad.bsky.social.