Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of our generation, and for good reason, too. Most people know him as a phenomenal swimmer, but how well do you really know Michael Phelps?
Phelps was born June 30, 1985 in Towson, Maryland. His parents, Fred and Debbie, claim that in the beginning, he was actually afraid to put his face in the water. He started swimming at the age of 7, but his love for the sport began when he was watching the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Young Phelps was inspired by the performances of Tom Malchow and Tom Dolan. That year, Malchow received a silver medal in the 200-meter butterfly and Dolan won a gold medal in the 400-individual medley. Similarly to his inspirations, Phelps excelled in the butterfly and individual medley. Michael Phelps started like any other athlete. So what makes him such a big deal?
1. Phelps takes his weaknesses and turns them into strengths.
Michael was diagnosed with ADHD as a child. ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, can cause problems with paying attention, excessive activity or difficulty controlling one's behavior. In Phelps’ case, he could not focus. Because he struggled in school, his mother would use swimming to help him get through certain subjects. For example, Phelps hated reading. According to ADDitude Magazine, to peak his interest, his mother would hand him the newspaper and open it up to the sports section. To help him with math, she would ask questions like, “How long would it take to swim 500 meters if you swim three meters per second?” By tailoring school to swimming, he began to focus more and in turn, excel. Phelps turned his weakness into a positive.
2. Phelps is the first U.S. male swimmer to compete in five Olympics.
Most people only know of four, but he did compete in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. According to Olympics.org, he was chosen for the U.S. swim team at age 15, making him the youngest American swimmer to compete in the Games since the Great Depression. He made the finals and finished fifth in the 200-meter butterfly. He even swam next to his idol, Tom Malchow, and lost. This was just the beginning for Michael Phelps.
3. He does not give up.
4. Phelps decided to live.
Despite his successes in the pool, Phelps became plagued by substance abuse and depression. A life under the microscope cannot be easy, with every action being criticized and analyzed. After getting arrested for a DUI, images surfaced of Phelps smoking pot. The media and Americans all over lashed out at him. With his mistakes made very public, Michael began to contemplate suicide. According to CBN News, the story continues with him getting help in rehab in 2014 after his friend and NFL star, Ray Lewis, encouraged him to fight.
Lewis told Phelps, “This is when we fight. This is when real character shows up. Don’t shut down. If you shut down we all lose.” Lewis gave Phelps a copy of Rick Warren’s book "The Purpose Driven Life," which gave him hope and pushed him through rehab. Michael Phelps’ decision to be honest about his mistakes and be vulnerable to the entire world about his struggles makes him relatable and admirable. Many people know how hard it is to struggle with mental illness or substance abuse. Phelps’ remarkable journey makes him that much easier to root for in this year’s Olympics.
5. Michael Phelps has won 26 Olympic medals...and counting.
As the swimming portion of the Olympics comes to a close, Michael Phelps is the owner of 26 Olympic medals, 22 of them gold.
Phelps tells LA Times, “I say this a lot, but every single day I'm living a dream come true. As a kid, I wanted to do something that no one had ever done before, and I'm enjoying it. Being able to finish how I won is just something very special to me and this is why you are seeing more and more emotion on the medal podium."
Phelps has the 100-meter butterfly event Friday night, where he may take his fifth gold medal at Rio.
Michael Phelps is said to retire after this year’s Olympics, but teammate and friend Ryan Lochte thinks he’ll compete in Tokyo in 2020.
"I guarantee he will be there," Lochte said on NBC’s "TODAY" show. “I think so. I really think so. So Michael, I'll see you in Tokyo."
Is Rio the last time Phelps will compete, or will we see him in four years in Tokyo? The future is bright for Michael Phelps, and I can’t wait to see what he’ll do next. Round of applause to you, Mr. Phelps.
