wanted to give it an honest try. Do it right this time. Sober up, get healthy, and swim as hard as I could.”
“It seems to have worked.”
“Yeah. I didn’t know it was possible.”
“So what happens for Isaac Flood now?”
Isaac nodded. “I plan to swim as long as my body lets me. Then I don’t know. I’ve got a few things I’m feeling out. Now that I’m sober, I feel like there are a lot more possibilities.”
“And personally? A family? Kids?”
“Yeah, that’s all possible too. I mean, nothing is set right now, but I’d like a family someday.”
“Gotta meet the right girl, right?”
Isaac had to work not to roll his eyes. “Sure, something like that.”
“You are something of a sex symbol, you know. All those magazine covers. Sports Illustrated. The Wheaties box. There are photos of you all over the internet.”
Isaac didn’t know what to do with that. He knew intellectually that it was true, that he’d been spotlighted in media coverage of the last Olympics and done an ESPN Magazine body issue or two, but knowing there were other people who looked at his picture and lusted was surreal. “I… sure.”
“Just curious if the ladies at home should give up hope.”
“Well.” Isaac didn’t know how to handle the question. He settled on, “I’ll keep you posted.”
Holt maybe realized he’d stumbled into one of the things Isaac didn’t want to discuss publicly. He looked like he wanted to press the issue, but one of the camera guys started gesturing. Holt nodded. “That may be enough, so let’s do some parting questions. How does it feel to win so many medals at these Olympics?”
“It’s wild. It feels amazing. I worked really hard for this, and I’m proud. My body feels good. Part of me still can’t believe I pulled it off.”
Holt wound down the discussion, conferring with the cameramen about whether they needed to reshoot anything. Then he turned back to Isaac and said, “One more question. Why did you agree to do this interview?”
Isaac smiled, thinking of Tim. “A friend of mine pointed out to me recently that we, as Olympic athletes, are role models. Millions of people all over the world are watching. I didn’t want to talk about all this publicly at first, but I thought that if maybe one person who is trapped in what feels like a hopeless situation sees my story, he might be inspired to work to get out. I know what the claws of alcoholism feel like, what depression feels like, how hard it is to climb out of all of that. It’s bleak, it really is, and it feels hopeless when you’re at the bottom. But I’m here to tell you it’s possible to get out. That’s the message I want to send. It’s possible to get your life back from alcohol. It’s hard. Lord knows I struggled for a long time. I still struggle. But it’s possible.”
Holt nodded. “That’s…. It’s a good message.” He looked at his notes again. “Let’s talk about that a little more. Anyone who knows an alcoholic knows that you never stop being an alcoholic. Do you still struggle with wanting to drink?”
Isaac took a deep breath. “Daily. But the message I took from rehab is to take each moment as it comes. I stay on the wagon by telling myself I just have to get through this hour, this day. If I feel overwhelmed, I talk to someone I trust, like my mom or one of my friends. I have a support network now that I didn’t have before rehab. And they are so valuable to me.”
“Your mother has been your biggest cheerleader.”
“She’s… she’s the best. I couldn’t have done any of this without her. Not swimming, not winning medals, not getting sober, none of it. I will never be able to thank her enough.”
“Do you think a lot of athletes struggle with problems like yours?”
Well, that was really the question, wasn’t it? “I’m sure they do. Maybe not alcoholism, but other things. Athletes feel a lot of pressure from coaches and families and the media and even ourselves to be successful, to be the best we can be. I coped with that pressure by turning to alcohol, but some turn to other drugs, including those that help with performance. I think every elite athlete probably knows someone who has done something extreme to be successful. Of course, that doesn’t excuse any of it, and I certainly don’t deserve anyone’s forgiveness. I just think we’re doing everyone