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This episode of info -- brought you by -- university but nothing stated in your way. If the ghosts of Walden Pond could talk. The stories they attempt. It would be gaining 1845. With tales of Henry gave it -- round. It was eight civilization for the isolation and serenity now wall and water could offer. 167. Years later did -- still had so much to same. The latest chapter Alex mind an Olympic open water swimmer who comes to Walden Pond for reasons of his own. I guess that the nature of the sport is. One of solitude. And let them Monday and lonely existence at times good that was a lot of time. And it's nice to be out here. Such a stark contrast from swimming is most grueling event we're competitors confront each other and the conditions. How rigorous as that. -- the most common question I get is like. Ten K how many laps is that -- -- it's not in the pool it's over water it's outdoors. It's anything but -- river lakes Rivers and oceans you know. Anything goes that there's -- there's attracting owners. All these tactics and strategy surrounding your positioning in so you're you're in. The moment -- in this race with all these people I mean you've got someone here and someone hears someone maybe right -- you -- right -- -- your feet. The courses are always a little different so -- she got a lot of things are out of your control you're gonna pack your mom getting bumped around a little bit. So just sort of sort of taken on that challenge and not being afraid that the ones who do get over the fear what do they have in common. Just tell -- Competitive. Races are longer so they have a longer period of time to be competitive. Grew up against the clock -- against your friends -- up against competitors depending on what what the event is. That Alex was constantly up against his mentor brain -- they were friends teammates and competitors. Sometimes that line was blurred like in 2010. Pan -- to a friend -- positioned to take cold until. Branyan out sick after like couple laps me in the first lap I was like -- in him at that time I was falling way behind Patten. He -- -- -- turned around stars of in the opposite direction noticing it now is like way back there like -- about an array of positive. Trying you know. And Mason and Ireland to Moscow and he'd swim back to happen and basically pulled me up to the back so I was really selfless thing for. You know as much as we're we're friends and teammates -- we're competitors. It would not competitors on October 23 2000 should do fine blue water temperatures were Smart need to -- and recovering from an appendectomy. Alex did not swing. Instead he would find himself leading the search for his missing friend whose body was eventually found at the race's final two. The autopsy concluding that rain scripted died of heat exhaustion and -- The only thing I don't like talking about it when people ask me take me through the and he held way you like the events of October point there just us. For some of an early one joint agreement. Also it's just not important at this point that's stories and you know what's what's important now is that people understand. That in this this happened this happened is this. There isn't really -- races Elton. Some -- -- continue to be held unfortunately. But in these are all the positive things. For -- has left behind. This is legacies are all. Positive. Members that we have -- that's what's most. I think it was a lot are harder for Alex. Act that I mean that they was in the works in my -- By a thousand miles away and know at all and I didn't mean I had it -- Knows -- tragedy of the whole thing with my appointment Alex like. -- solid analyze it and probably a lot of no real lightning vision that happened in I. All of my memory I'll have memories -- great memories out. I'm really kind of thankful for the last I saw my brother thought in -- I am -- I -- and howl. I'm wondering. Alex in -- sister a former Olympic swimmer spoke for the first time days after friends that. In unfathomable conversation. Which -- led to a beautiful friendship. Which is why conflicted Alex reached out to Matty but he was getting ready to defend his title at the world championships. Almost exactly a year to -- a friend's dad. I felt at that point five -- conditions where entirely. Unsafe and dangerous. To be holding up a race to do so hot. -- for the basically the same conditions that friends died in doing and trying to do a ten K in other hole in point 50 OK we're just. It was. You know deeply disturbing to me but. And profoundly stupid. So did you swim that race and because of the conditions. And now I was the defending world champion at the time I I really want to when my goals I had two goals I want me the only team number two when point five. And I'm but I decided. Not and do that. I talked Alex. -- twelve -- retirees he was really our. Idea. I don't think that's right I think. Am not I mean really showed in -- and other big character. Option. I think five is he. You knew that it was right he it and you know and and not many athletes. But that's -- I don't think there was anybody there that wanted to defend a world championship more than he did. So. I don't think it was an easy decision not to do it in any respect. But I think it's got on that more engrossed in the behind the scenes kind of things and you know speaking. Speaks on panels. You know being on me yet. Serving as the water. You know athlete. And feedback in that respect and sort of in grosses and in the sport a little bit different capacity which which is great. And so he grows he educates and he slams. And always with friend beside him the next waters Monday when he represented his country and his friends. At -- it should be for celebration of what is often turning into contemplation. Almost couldn't. June 2 talk about the 2000. Fifths it was definitely it's kind of understanding that you know. We want to go and two of us and that's what that's what we wanted him. There's one guy who deserved it more than anyone else perhaps the best shot you know winning winning gold medals and off I just feel like is it like it's. Really lonely place for me in the end like you know friendly friend should be. You know Fran was the man and now like I've been like for -- and in this position where. I'm just -- I don't. I don't know how to like do this without him around and play guys. This feel. Sometimes on where it like I'd say on where you felt like. Discount. This is doing if -- if there accounting -- you. He would be so exciting seen all of you dream come true office all these things aren't out up front you know I -- because of that experience out. I got. I can -- from personal experience that. -- -- -- And representing at it's it's his. The coolest thing I've ever done and I think and outs is help me get started and he's gonna have. Great equipment and and you can't airport in the off. Does it change the way you view him in the sixties and I definitely I. He's a it's it's a huge motivation for me -- -- in -- do. To honor him by having a good performance and and obviously it is you know all the people my family and friends and all the things in my life that. This fire me but also you know -- is a huge part of -- I -- and and Iowa and do well enough all of his friends and family in The Who have. You know been really supportive of me which I'm really thankful for and means a lot. He's a huge part. This episode of big focus was watching the bike to ride university crowd support the education team USA.