Sport

Michael Phelpss greatness was showcased in the 2008 Beijing Olympics when he won 8 gold medals and surpassed the record of 7 held by Mark Spitz since the 1972 Munich games. His drive and passion for the sport as well as support from family and friends helped Michael achieve this monumental goal. Growing up was difficult with no father and to make matters worse during his childhood, Phelps was diagnosed with ADHD. Many teachers believed that his lack of focus wouldnt help him succeed. However, his mom and sisters encouraged him to swim and with the help of his longtime coach, Bob Bowman, Michael achieved something no one ever believed could happen and that was winning 8 gold medals in one Olympiad. He is considered one of the greatest athletes of all time. The article below focuses on his early beginnings as a newbie in the water to his fast ascent to stardom as one of the swimming greats as well as his childhood and the people who supported him every step of the way.

The record for most gold medals won during one Olympiad was seven and that honor belonged to the great Mark Spitz. However, on the night of August 17, 2008, millions of people around the world watching national television saw the greatness of Michael Phelps. The 23-year-old surpassed a record that lasted for thirty-six years when he won his eighth gold medal in his final swimming event, the 4x100 meter medley relay. Not only was his final event etched as a world record but the illusion of competing and winning eight gold medals became a reality for Michael Phelps. His pursuit of perfection was nearly out of reach but by sheer strength of power and will Phelps managed an awkward half-stroke to beat Milorad Cavic by one-hundredth of a second to nab his seventh gold medal, which tied him with Spitz (Crouse, 2008). Phelps not only garnered eight gold medals but he also gained notable attention and praise for his accomplishment following the 29th Olympiad.

He is considered one of the greatest athletes of all time by many even those who arent swimming fans. In addition, many other athletes outside the sport commend him for his success and his success is said to be greater than that of Michael Jordans who in his own right won six NBA championships. However, the feat that Phelps accomplished was more difficult indeed since the Olympic Games only come every four years whereas an NBA final happens every year. Not many people imagined that this lanky and energetic youth could accomplish greatness, but Phelps has proven to those who doubted him that his determination, passion, and unconditional support from family and friends helped him overcome all odds.

His success comes from understanding and practicing every facet of the sport. His work ethic can be paralleled to that of Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant. He works extremely hard to achieve perfection. His coach, Bob Bowman, is often awestruck by his incredible maturity and work ethnic when it comes to swimming. Not only is his work ethnic dynamic but his unique physical characteristics gave him the ability to succeed in the water. At 64, Phelps length gave him an advantage over other swimmers much shorter than himself. In addition, the fact that Phelps has a longer torso and shorter legs give him and edge that makes him faster in the water. Couple these features with the fact that Phelps has a 67 wingspan and more determination than any other athlete shows the world why he is such an incredible athlete. His success is limitless and the world will continue to see him grow and flourish and who knows what will see him do in the next Olympiad hosted by London in 2012.

Biography and Early Success  
Although we know him as an Olympic Superstar or Greatest Athlete of All Time, Michael Phelps didnt start out that way. He was born Michael Fred Phelps on June 30, 1985, to Fred and Debbie Phelps in Baltimore Maryland (Biography 2008). Michael was the youngest of three children and has two older sisters, Whitney and Hilary. His father, Fred, worked as a state trooper and his mother, Debbie, was a middle school principal. Unfortunately, Michaels parents divorced in 1994 and the kids went to live with Debbie. As a result of this tumultuous transition during his childhood, Michael became very close with his mom. Michael was diagnosed with ADHD at an early age and unfortunately he had so much energy that he had a difficult time staying focused in school. His mother, Debbie, wasnt quite sure how to handle Michaels pent up energy. However, by the age of seven Michael joined the world of swimming in part due to his sisters participation and influence as well as an exterior outlet for all his energy. Surprisingly, Michael was afraid to submerge himself underwater therefore his instructors allowed him to float on his back while paddling. As a result of this training, the first stroke he mastered was the backstroke. His inspiration to become an Olympic swimmer came at age 11 when he witnessed Tom Malchow and Tom Dolan participate in the 1996 Atlanta Games. From that day on Michael has spent every waking moment in the water preparing himself to be a champion.
He met his coach, Bob Bowman, at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club. From the moment Bowman laid eyes on Michael he could feel the potential emanating from the youth and decided to take the youth under his wing and train him. Phelps and Bowman worked together to create an intense training regiment that helped Michael achieve a spot on the US National B team in 1999 at the tender age of 14. The worlds first glimpse of Phelpss potential and unrivaled determination came during the 2000 Sydney Games. At the age of 15, he became the youngest swimmer in 68 years to compete in the Olympic Games. Although he didnt win a medal his first time around, Michael continued to work hard for the next Olympiad.

In 2001, Michael became the youngest swimmer in history to set a world record at a major event when he swam the 200m butterfly. He later broke that record when he competed at the 2001 World Championships in Japan, and as a result he received his first international medal. He continued his success at the 2003 W.C. located in Spain when he set five world records, which included his record breaking 15404 for the 200m individual medley. The next Olympiad in Athens, Greece would unveil Michaels unlimited potential and success as well as competitiveness and passion for the sport.

2004 Athens, Greece and the Aftermath of Stardom  

Many wondered could he handle the pressures of competition and the big stage at the tender age of 19. However, he proved many critics and admires alike wrong by winning 8 medals 6 gold and 2 bronze. He emerged as a superstar after the 2004 games and showed the world that he could compete and win against veterans of the sport. He gained prestige as well as endorsement deals with companies such as Speedo and Kelloggs. He was a 19-year-old phenom with the world at his fingertips and the sad but ugly truth is the fact that stardom has its consequences too. Shortly after his success in Athens, Phelps was charged with DUI after running a stop sign. His punishment was 18 months probation and a 250 fine. In addition to these punishments Michael was ordered to speak at high schools about drunk driving and attend Mothers against Drunk Driving meetings. Following this incident, Michael focused all his energy on swimming and continued to have success in major swimming events such as the 2006 Pan Pacific Championships and the 2007 W.C. in Melbourne, Australia. These successes would eventually lead up to his monumental success in 2008.
2008 Beijing, China and Beyond

As mentioned before, the world saw firsthand the instincts and determination that Michael has when he is competing on a big stage. The entire world saw him achieve an unprecedented 8 gold medals in one Olympiad, which finally broke the 36 year record held by the great Mark Spitz. As usual most people thought he wouldnt do it and he proved the critics wrong again. His passion for the sport became evident when he swam the final 15m of the 200m butterfly blind because water had filled his goggles. His passion and sheer will was witnessed by all when he won the 100m butterfly after being in 7th at the turn and winning the event by one-hundredth of a second. He will forever be known as one of the greatest of all time but for Michael he has managed to stay grounded and family oriented because of his mother and sisters

In the aftermath of his success and ascent in to superstardom, Michael Phelps has managed to find ways to stay grounded and contribute to his community. His passion for the sport and connection with family has made Phelps the man he is today. His incredible work ethnic and amazing physique helped him achieve success he never dreamed he could attain. His mother and sisters continue to play a big part in his life and he continues to live a normal life. His success is unparalleled and unprecedented and the world will never witness what he has achieved in his young life. He brings great pride and joy to his country and colleagues and his sheer will and motivation can be witnessed and admired in every competition. His battle with ADHD and the rough childhood has also helped Michael grow and flourish. Through the fire, he has emerged a victorious athlete and become a great person.