The most decorated Olympian of all time has proven his worth at the Rio Olympics. He won a total of 6 medal: five gold, one silver in Rio. 28 medals, 23 gold, in his total Olympic career. After 16 years, he continues to dominate every race. He has become the first Olympian to win a gold medal in the same individual event four Olympics in a row (200 IM). Swimmers across America are looking up to him every step of his Olympic journey. However, I believe that Michael Phelps is a role model that all athletes, not just swimmers, can look up to.
As many watched the Olympics, they could tell that there was a difference in Phelps' attitude. The 2016 Michael Phelps is an athlete that all can look up to, even more than the previous four Olympics.
He shows that you can come back from the lowest parts of your life.
Michael Phelps had a rocky road to Rio. In September of 2014, he received his second DUI. The DUI caused the world to turn and point fingers at the 29-year-old Olympian. He had disappointed his fans, family, and his country. He became depressed and even contemplated suicide. This was when NFL player, Ray Lewis, reached out to Phelps.
"This is where we fight, this is where real character shows up", Lewis told him in a SportsCenter interview.
Thankfully, with the help of Lewis and others, Phelps went to a rehab facility in Arizona to receive treatment. When Phelps went to rehab, Lewis gave him a book called The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. Phelps dove into the book and it helped him find out who he really was as a person. The rehabilitation experience created a new Michael Phelps. He has come back to Rio as good as new, with a new mindset.
No matter what you go through as an athlete, do not give up. Fight. Athletes are competitors for a reason. We compete to win in sports. We compete to win the game of life. Just because you have a bad day, month, or season does not give you a reason to stop competing for life.
He has great sportsmanship.
A great example of this is his 100 butterfly final. Michael Phelps has won gold in this event three Olympics in a row, and this was going to be his fourth. Instead, he ended up in a three-way tie for second. The second he realized that someone else won, he went two lanes over to give the winner, Joseph Schooling, a giant hug. The greatest of all time is usually at the top of the podium, not on the bottom. It is very important that we look at his reaction when he loses.
When we have had an awful game, a rough day on the course, or you did your best and just didn't get the results you wanted, you should act like Michael Phelps. When you lose, lose with dignity and grace. Congratulate the other team or athlete you lost to. They clearly were the better player that day. Don't let your pride get in your way.
He strives to learn more.
What anyone can see from Michael Phelps is that when he sets goals, he achieves them. After he performed in prelims or semi-finals, Michael Phelps would be seen looking at footage from his races. He constantly talks to his lifelong coach, Bob Bowman, about what he more he can do. He strives to understand how he can improve to reach his goals.
All athletes want to be great, that's a given. But if you really want to be the greatest of all time you have to put the effort in to get there. That means, listening to your coaches on days when you just don't want to listen, work even harder on the days you just don't want to, and do the things other athletes are not willing to do.
He handles his rivalries in the pool.
The next night, however, Phelps dominated the 200 butterfly, leaving Clos in the dust and off of the podium in 4th place.
Many of us can get caught up in the rivalries that we face. When we face our rival school or team, we have to win. This is for good reason, every athlete needs to have some good competition. However, many athletes can take this out of hand and become hateful to the other athletes or taunt them, like Le Clos did. Do not take the bait. Do not give the bait. Be like Michael Phelps and show you are the best by performing your best.
He is a great teammate.
As other USA Olympians swim to get on the podium, you'll see Phelps cheering them on as much as he can. Some athletes put their pride and ego above the success of their teammates. He always celebrates their success without jealousy.
What you need to remember is that no matter how you performed in a race, don't let your pride and ego get the best of you. Immediately go and congratulate your teammate and forget about your performance for the time being.
He is grateful for his opportunity to compete.
During most of his interviews in the Rio Olympics, Phelps has mentioned how he is grateful for the opportunity he has to swim. He went from having a lifetime low in 2014 to having a fiancée, a baby boy, and a more laid back personality than in past Olympics. You can see his gratitude in his interviews and his carefree mentality. He said in an interview after one of his races that this experience has been a "dream come true."
Guys, Michael Phelps has been in the Olympic field for 16 years and he still believes that competing in his sport is a dream come true. There are many times during just a single season where I take being an athlete for granted. The hard practices sometimes make me not want to go to practice. We put blood, sweat, and tears into our sport, but still, we take it all for granted.
As we go into our sports after the Olympics, we need to have the same mindset as Michael Phelps. Many people do not have the opportunity that you have to perform. So go out there and become the next GOAT (Greatest Of All Time).
