In Quest for Eight Medals, Eight Influences
Monday, August 18, 2008 1:08 pm posted by Admin (168 views)
Michael Phelps says his mother, Debbie Phelps, seen here celebrating after the men’s 4×200-meter freestyle relay, inspired his Olympic success.
Michael Phelps won his eighth swimming gold medal of the Beijing Games on Sunday, bettering Mark Spitz’s record of seven in a single Olympics. Here are eight people who influenced Phelps in his quest:
¶Debbie Phelps (mother): In the mixed zone after winning his eighth medal, Phelps said: “There’s so much emotions going through my head, so much excitement. I guess I just want to see my mom.” She raised Phelps and his two sisters on a teacher’s salary after her divorce from Phelps’s father, Fred.
¶Whitney Phelps (sister): Before Phelps, Whitney, 28, was the family’s swimming prodigy. She qualified for her first United States national team at the age of 13 and competed in the world championship as a 14-year-old. She finished sixth in the 200 butterfly at the 1996 Olympic trials before two bulging disks in her back forced her to retire. She has had her little brother’s back since long before he had a bull’s-eye on it.
¶Hilary Phelps (sister): She was also a good swimmer, competing at the University of Richmond. In his 2004 autobiography, “Beneath the Surface,” Phelps described Hilary, 30, as “nurturing and modest.” Both his sisters served as his surrogate mother when Debbie was at work and Phelps’s affection for them is obvious. After the medals ceremony for the 200-meter freestyle, he found his family, leaning over the photo stand to hand his bouquet of flowers to Hilary.
¶Bob Bowman (coach): They have been working together since Phelps was 11. Bowman turned down jobs to remain with Phelps in Baltimore and in the last four years Phelps has followed Bowman to Michigan and back to Maryland, where he is taking over the North Baltimore Aquatic Club program. “I don’t think I would be where I am today with any other coach,” Phelps said.
¶Jason Lezak (relay teammate): In the 4×100-meter freestyle relay, Lezak recorded his fastest 100 split by more than one second to reel in France’s Alain Bernard in the final meter and help Phelps to his second gold medal. Lezak anchored the 4×100 medley relay to victory Sunday as Phelps won his record eighth gold. Lezak said his last thought before he hit the water was “not to blow the lead.” Phelps would not collect the $1 million bonus from his sponsor, Speedo had he only equaled Spitz’s record. For the record, Lezak said he neither expects nor desires a cut of Phelps’s cash.
¶Young Jeezy (rapper): An artist who Phelps has listed as one of his current favorites. Phelps listened to his songs — “Go Getta” is favorite — before his Olympic races. Phelps and his American rival Ryan Lochte, who is also a fan of Jeezy, greet each other by saying “Juh,” in homage to the rapper, a k a Jay Jenkins.
¶Ian Crocker (rival): He is the last one to make Phelps look mortal, which Phelps has used as fuel. At the 2005 world championship in Barcelona, Spain, Crocker set a world record in the 100 butterfly that still stands. Phelps finished more than a second behind Crocker’s 50.40 seconds. After losing to Crocker at the 2004 Olympic trials, Phelps hung a picture of Crocker on his bedroom wall and looked at it every day for inspiration. He has prevailed in their last five meetings.
¶Ian Thorpe (rival): Phelps watched videos of Thorpe’s freestyle, paying particular attention to his underwater dolphin kick off the turns, and sought to emulate him, and not just in the water. At the 2000 Olympics, Phelps saw how popular Thorpe was in his homeland and decided he wanted to do something to make Americans pay more attention to the sport, the way Thorpe had done in Australia. Eight gold medals? That will get people’s attention.
Source: http://www.nytimes.com
Photo Credit: Anja Niedringhaus/Associated Press.
