This year's Olympics marks the end of an era. We lose our most respected athlete. We lose the greatest swimmer in history. We lose the greatest athlete in Olympic history.
One the 11th of August, Michael Phelps claimed his 13th individual title, surpassing the great Leonidas, leader of the Spartan forces. He has claimed his throne as the most decorated ever, and even has another individual final tonight, the 12th.
Phelps is competing in his fifth Olympic birth, even after taking a year off after his fourth. He was a young lad when he first competed at 15 years old. It isn't as if he's only competing with the others. He's dominating the competition. At the age of 31, after 16 years at the highest level athletics, he crushes his competitors.
His 22nd medal came in the 200 IM. When people at home watch this race, they don't understand the level of difficulty that comes with it. The race seems short, maybe even easy. The reality is that these men are enormous, and these men are unbelievably fast.
In a regular competition pool in the United States, the pool is actually 25 yards long, shorter than 25 meters, shorter than the Olympic 50 meter pool. Sure, they swim only a little longer in the long run, but they miss a turn on every lap. Pushing off the wall is the most effortless and fastest portion of the pool, aside from the start.
To be the best at the 200 IM, Michael had to be the fastest and the best in every stroke. Establishing a steady rhythm in the individual medley is incredibly difficult. It isn't exactly a long race, so you can't coast it. It's a sprint. You can't sprint it all out, because you have to breathe. A breath brings oxygen to the swimmer for the following 30 seconds.
This race is brutal. It's devastating. It's crushing.
With all of this in mind, realize that Phelps has topped the field an amazing four times around.
Even crazier, is that he's been able to push himself for so long. He started swimming at a young age, and he's been able to push himself harder than anyone else in the world for longer than anyone else in the world.
He's amazing. More so, he's the epitome of a world class athlete. He is what all athletes aspire to be. He has become a legend to all, and a dream to most.
To those out there that don't appreciate his prowess, I hope that some day you will. Because, you've missed it now. Michael is swimming his victory lap today, August 12th, and he's never looking back.
Thank you, Michael Phelps. We're inspired.
