Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps
Michael Fred Phelps II is an American competition swimmer and the most decorated Olympian of all time, with a total of 22 medals in three Olympiads. Phelps also holds the all-time records for Olympic gold medals, Olympic gold medals in individual events, and Olympic medals in individual events for a male. In winning eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games, Phelps took the record away from fellow American swimmer Mark Spitzfor the most first-place finishes at any single Olympic...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionSwimmer
Date of Birth30 June 1985
CityBaltimore, MD
CountryUnited States of America
If I bring back only one gold people are going to say it's a disappointment. But not too many of them own an Olympic gold medal so if I get one I'm going to be happy.
I believe in God; I'm not saying I'm highly religious.
I think sometimes I guess you see records, say you want to get there and use that as motivation. In a way, it's kind of cool if there is a possibility to rewrite history and be up there with the greats of Olympic history.
I want to go to the World Cup. I want to go to the Masters. I want to go... anywhere.
I'm the same kind of guy before all this happened.
I always thought, it would be neat to make the Olympic team.
Swimming is normal for me. I'm relaxed. I'm comfortable, and I know my surroundings. It's my home.
I won't predict anything historic. But nothing is impossible.
I try to separate my personal life from swimming.
I used to always go to church on holidays, but I don't go much any more.
Once I retire, I'm retiring. I'm done.
I consider myself normal. I've spent 20 years in the pool. I consider that something that's normal.
I learned how fast you can go from being an international hero to being a reference in a joke on a late night talk show.
For recovery, I think it's a big deal to eat within a half-hour after you exercise. Otherwise I just try to put carbs into my system before I swim and then load up on the protein after. I don't count calories. Whether it's Sour Patch Kids or Reese's or a bag of chips, if I feel like eating it, I'm going to eat it.