Bold headline moment: Lilly King brings her Olympic aura to NPR’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me, sharing the high-adrenaline world behind the scenes and on deck moments that fans rarely see. In a live Bloomington broadcast from Indiana University, the three-time Olympic gold medalist and Indiana University alumna opened up about race-days, the big engagement at the Olympic Trials, and her appearance on the popular trivia show.
King looked back on the viral engagement that stunned the crowd in Indianapolis, when her fiancé James Wells appeared on deck right after she clinched her spot in the Games by winning the 200 breaststroke. She described the moment as exhausting yet electric: after a demanding race, she was catching her breath and suddenly saw Wells on the deck—unexpected, surprising, and unforgettable.
She also recounted useful pre-walkdown advice from her former teammate Annie Lazor, an Olympic bronze medalist from Tokyo who had transitioned into coaching. Lazor urged King to relax a small, practical detail: remove her cap after the race. King recalled their frank, honest exchange and Lazor’s insistence that trust and simple actions can influence performance and perception, turning a tense moment into a poised finish.
The conversation then shifted to King’s competitive persona—fiery, determined, and undeniably bold. Host Peter Sagal even nicknamed her the “Dennis Rodman of International Swimming,” highlighting her fearless presence both in and out of the pool.
On Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me, the format features a rotating panel of comedians and guests who challenge the week’s news in a lively, rapid-fire quiz. King tackled questions centered on height, reflecting the online chatter about the term “short kings.” One prompt asked who, among options Neil Armstrong, Joseph Stalin, or Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, stood out as notably below average in height. King dismissed Johnson as the obvious outlier, and ultimately chose Joseph Stalin as the correct answer.
In the end, King answered two of three questions correctly, leaving listeners with a memorable glimpse of her competitive spirit, quick wit, and approachable personality.
In This Story
- Annie Lazor
- Lilly King
