“I started taking swimming lessons at 2,” says Adrian. “I had a ton of energy as a kid!”

How’s this for ironic? Olympic-gold swimmer Adrian loves going to the beach—yet he’s terrified of the water! “It must be a Jaws thing,” he jokes to Us. “I get freaked out in the ocean, when you can’t see the bottom.” Back in the pool, though, he’s fearless: “I don’t concern myself with trying to seem confident. I just think about the preparation I’ve done.” And outside the pool? “I have some childish hobbies,” he admits, “like playing with remote-control cars and helicopters.” He’s young at heart romantically too: “I make girls my own cards with cardboard paper and glitter glue. It shows effort!”

(via emstryke)