Agent is pretty certain Phelps can make $100 million lifetime earnings - not too shabby at all. They did seem to make a lot out of the fact that he practiced so much (5 years straight, including Christmas). It is impressive to see so much dedication, but I am certain nearly every person in the water with him at those games put just as much time and dedication in to their performance (not everyone can win a gold, no matter how much effort).
I would be curious to see how much $$ guys like Lochte and Hansen are pulling in post Olympics. It would be nice to know that guys who only win 1 or 2 golds can still walk away with some reward for the hard work.
It is impressive to see so much dedication, but I am certain nearly every person in the water with him at those games put just as much time and dedication in to their performance (not everyone can win a gold, no matter how much effort).
I don't believe this to be true. Phelps' training apparently is well beyond the normal Olympic level swimmer. I don't think you'll find the greatest in any sport who train only as hard as their peers. I consider Phelps to be up there with Armstrong, Jordan, Montana, Bird, Tiger and those guys are all legendary in their above and beyond training.
I don't believe this to be true. Phelps' training apparently is well beyond the normal Olympic level swimmer. I don't think you'll find the greatest in any sport who train only as hard as their peers. I consider Phelps to be up there with Armstrong, Jordan, Montana, Bird, Tiger and those guys are all legendary in their above and beyond training.
Totally agree the philosophy behind Phelps not taking a day off was that everyone took Sundays off so that was 52 more days a year he had on everyone else. There are many different training styles out there - Gary Hall I'm sure puts no where near the time in. Natalie Coughlin doesn't put the time/yardage in like Phelps (to compare him to another very versatile swimmer).
Phelps has crazy amounts of talent for sure - all the Olympians do but the hard work sets him apart. The 10,000 for time and the crazy IM and Fly sets he's done could not be done by many ... he is in a league of his own in training.
I don't know. It seems like Popov did pretty well with a "less is more" approach to training. So did Dara. Granted, MP swims middle distance events, but I think the jury is out as far as mega yardage goes. Like everything else in life, I think it works for some, but not for everyone. It makes you wonder, though, if his greatest swimming skill is his capacity to endure monotony. To do anything, even sex with an endless alternating harem of Islamic virgins, for 365 days a year, five years in a row, might get just a wee bit old. Or at least lead to all manner of overuse syndromes...
I don't know. It seems like Popov did pretty well with a "less is more" approach to training. So did Dara. Granted, MP swims middle distance events, but I think the jury is out as far as mega yardage goes. Like everything else in life, I think it works for some, but not for everyone. It makes you wonder, though, if his greatest swimming skill is his capacity to endure monotony. To do anything, even sex with an endless alternating harem of Islamic virgins, for 365 days a year, five years in a row, might get just a wee bit old. Or at least lead to all manner of overuse syndromes...
I've talked to a few coaches who have seen him train...although the yardage is impressive he has a reputation as a bit of a "sammy save up"...cruises a good portion of a set/workout and then swims incredibley fast selectively...which apparently drove some of his harder working/less succesful teammates crazy.
PSSST: it's not really true! Those guys did work really hard(!) but it is the talent that separates them (perhaps the combination of hard work and supreme talent).
Talent only gets you so far, amigo. It is the hard training that gets you the extra distance, so to speak. Lots and lots of people out there with talent.
...cruises a good portion of a set/workout and then swims incredibley fast selectively...
Why, I do believe I've heard that exact same thing said of a fellow by the name of Smith... :)
But why take my word for it?
forums.usms.org/showthread.php
Phelps looks great. He said he has gained 5 lbs since the Olympics (and I watched him eat with Anderson Cooper.) He still seems to eat a ton. I wonder if he'll gain much more weight between now and when he starts up training for 2012. 'Course he's young and he'll probably be just fine.
Guess he's not quite ready to retire?!
Andy Cooper - didn't have a shot against Phelps on the 25 yd swim for time. Why on earth would Andy want Phelps to do underwater SDK - that's the fastest way to swim. . .
Nice piece. I liked it when Phelps said he owed mom "everything."
