Michael Phelps
A Fish Out of Water?

Michael Phelps and his 8 gold medals (wordpress.com)

38 national titles, 35 world records, 14 gold medals: Michael Phelps has accomplished more in his life than a majority of 65-year olds. Phelps is known as one of the greatest Olympians of all time. He is also one of the most well-known Olympians. Michael has earned about $5 million in endorsements. In 2003, he was awarded the Sullivan Award for his hard work as the “nation’s best amateur athlete.”

Michael Phelps has been swimming since he was about five years old. At a young age, he was diagnosed with ADHD, an inability to pay attention. ADHD also causes the child with it to have lots of energy and not be able to sit still . One of the reasons that Phelps started swimming was so that he could exert his energy. Before long, Michael was swimming competitively. At age 11, Michael Phelps met his long time swim coach, Bob Bowman. Bowman saw great potential in Michael becoming an “exceptional athlete.”

Phelps swimming butterfly (blogs.eveningsun.com)

At the young age of 15, Phelps qualified for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. When he qualified for the 2000 Summer Olympics, he became the youngest member of the US Olympic team since 1932! Although Phelps finished in 5th place in the 200 meter butterfly, he beat the 15-16 National Age Group record. Soon after the Olympics, Michael Phelps became the youngest world record holder in history when he set a new record in the 200 meter butterfly in Japan at the World Championships.

At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, Michael won a total of eight medals, and six were gold! Yet again four years later, Phelps made history by being the only Olympic athlete to win eight gold medals. For these eight gold medal events, Michael Phelps set a record for each one.

Michael Phelps really set the standards for Olympic swimming. He is a perfect example of how hard work can pay off. Phelps was diagnosed with ADHD at a young age and eventually became the youngest swimmer in the Summer Olympics since 1932. “It has been nothing but an upwards roller coaster,” Phelps says. “It has been nothing but fun. The biggest thing is nothing is impossible. All it takes is imagination.”