**SPOILER** Michael Phelps remaining Olympic schedule
Former Member
This is just in from WBAL-TV here in Baltimore:
ATHENS, Greece -- Michael Phelps is done for the Olympics.
Phelps announced he's finished competing in Athens after taking away five gold and two bronze medals from the 2004 Olympic Games.
The Maryland swimmer said he will not swin the 4x100m medley relay, and will instead cede his spot to fellow U.S. swimmer Ian Crocker.
"We came into this meet as a team and we're going to leave it as a team," Phelps said. "It's the right thing to do."
Phelps made his announcement around 3:15 p.m. Baltimore time. Phelps told U.S. men's coach Eddie Reese that he wanted to give up his spot.
Since Phelps swam in the preliminaries, he would still get a medal if the U.S. team reaches the podium in Saturday night's medley final.
That's considered a formality. Any swimmer who is part of a top-three relay team -- whether it's the preliminaries or final -- receives a medal.
Phelps is still likely to tie Soviet gymnast Aleksandr Dityatin's record of eight medals at the boycotted 1980 Moscow Games. Currently, he has two bronzes to go with his five golds.
The Americans have never lost a medley relay at the Olympics and are an overwhelming favorite to win gold again.
Is this guy class or what. The media has been talking about his immaturity for months, but I can't think of many 19 year olds (just barely 19 year olds at that) who could have handled this with so much dignity and poise. This move in no way, I believe, jeopardizes the relay, but is so magnanimous. A true team player, and a true Olympic champion!
Phelps came across great, IMO. He always looked happy when they interviewed him after an event. He and Crocker hugging after the fly was a great moment for the sport. Unbelievable how he pulled that win out. Some people can just do that--Gary Hall is certainly another one.
Letting Crocker take his relay spot is an unbelievable gesture!
Former Member
Originally posted by knelson
He and Crocker hugging after the fly was a great moment for the sport. Unbelievable how he pulled that win out.
It looked to me as if Crocker died more than Phelps came through but besides that I agree Phelps had a great meet.
Former Member
Originally posted by swimpastor
Is this guy class or what. The media has been talking about his immaturity for months, but I can't think of many 19 year olds (just barely 19 year olds at that) who could have handled this with so much dignity and poise. This move in no way, I believe, jeopardizes the relay, but is so magnanimous. A true team player, and a true Olympic champion!Thank you, Swimpastor! The national media, in our humble opinion here in Baltimore, doesn't know what it's talking about. (So what else is new?) For those who have met Michael personally and spoken with him, they will tell you that he's way more mature than many who are almost twice his age. The media here in Baltimore fortunately hasn't forgotten about that. He made lasting impresson on me. We'll all miss him, it seems, here in Baltimore when he goes to Michigan, but I suppose he will always be "our Michael" which truly shows our hometown pride.
Can Phelps swim with the University of Michigan team? Can he compete with them? I thought he lost his eligibility but don't know whether that precludes him from practicing.
Originally posted by aquageek
Can Phelps swim with the University of Michigan team? Can he compete with them? I thought he lost his eligibility but don't know whether that precludes him from practicing.
I think he'll be swimming with Club Wolverine, which is U of M's club team. I don't know the rules, but it seems like he wouldn't actually be able to train with the college team. Anyone know for sure? Maybe since he's already given up his eligibility it's o.k.
Former Member
I would think that since --or if he has turned professional he is ineligible by NCAA rules to swim for Michigan, but I would think that his coach would have put a disclaimer in accepting the job to continue to train Phelps anyway he deems fit.
