Michael Phelps: The Golden Goal
The 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo was scheduled to begin at the end of July this year, however, it got postponed to 2021 due to the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic. As a tribute to the event, the story of Michael Phelps, who is the most decorated Olympian of all time seemed fitting.
Phelps holds the record for winning the most medals at the Olympic games, with 23 of his 28 medals being gold. His first Olympics participation at the age of 15 was at Sydney in 2000, where he lost a race by half a second and finished the games without a medal. His dedication was rewarded at the World Championship trials the following year, as Phelps became the youngest swimmer to break a world record in the 200 metre butterfly race. His reputation was greatly enhanced before the 2004 Olympics in Athens, as he had previously broken two world records at the Barcelona 2003 World Championship during the 200 metre individual medley and 100 metre butterfly events.
Understanding why Phelps became so successful at the highest level of swimming requires a closer look at the early stages of his career, and a training regime which developed his mindset and allowed him to push his body to the absolute limit.
At a young age, he had Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and this inability to concentrate on one thing meant he never sat still. Joining his sisters at the local aquatic club is what sparked his passion for swimming, describing the feeling as being in control for the first time. His hyperactive nature was an advantage in the pool, for someone with the energy to practice for long hours. Phelps has been swimming competitively since the age of 7, before meeting Bob Bowman who started coaching him at the age of 11 in North Baltimore. Bowman once said his greatest accomplishment was getting to help somebody who changed the way the world thinks of swimming. Regardless of Bowman’s tough training program which included involving the swimmer in up to 21 races in three days, Phelps always excelled in demanding situations that carried on for most of his career. He is also admired for his training streaks, and it was reported that he trained everyday for five years as a teenager which he attributed to his competitive nature and wanting to achieve something special.
Bowman who was a key figure in Phelps’ development had envisaged the possibility of the 11 year old making it to the Olympics, which he then discussed with Phelps’ parents. This plan involved putting a halt to playing baseball and lacrosse, and transferring to a school that supported the young swimmer. Phelps has been described as a goal-oriented person, and he developed the habit of writing down goals as shown below when he was only 8 years old. This habit can be applied to other aspects of our lives, and for Phelps visualising what he could achieve through his hard work helped him focus.
Phelps’ successful career didn’t protect him from personal problems anyone could face, and he admitted to suffering from depression occasionally which also led him to contemplate suicide. This began in 2004, which was the same year he got arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) and leading to a probation of 18 months, a fine and community service. Similarly in 2008, a photo of him smoking from a bong was taken weeks after winning a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics and led to an apology. Phelps was always able to bounce back, just like he did when he won six medals at the 2005 World Championship in Montreal and a repeat in the 2009 World Championship in Rome. His worst fall into depression was after the London 2012 Olympics, and led to his initial retirement after completely losing interest. When he spoke about his experience at the Kennedy Forum mental health conference, he wanted his voice to encourage others to get help and fight the stigma associated with mental illness.
His 2014 return following retirement started with a win in Charlotte at the 100 metre butterfly event, however he had his third big controversial incident in a decade which got him another DUI. He went on to spend 45 days at an Arizona rehab facility, the Meadows. On his return, he trained hard with the help of Bowman and reinvigorated commitment. Fast forward to his last appearance at the Olympics in Rio at the age of 31, the man nicknamed “The Baltimore Bullet” impressed again winning five gold medals in his last appearance at the Olympics.
He announced his retirement days after the Rio Olympics, cementing his legacy not just as an Olympian but also arguably the greatest athlete of all time. He showed the world it was possible to be successful and consistently display excellence but still encounter personal problems. He admitted being a pro athlete with the pressure to maintain a macho persona discouraged him from asking for help initially. Therapy now helps him maintain his mental health and is something Phelps is passionate about. He has since partnered with Talkspace, the global leader in online therapy to promote it as an important tool to help improve one's mental health.
His Olympic goal sheet which included times he wanted to hit for each event always kept him going, and this came with a sacrifice for someone who believed missing a day of training set him two days back. In the end, each goal rewarded him with each gold.