Michael Phelps, what's up with all the scratching?
Former Member
Mike Gustafson blogs
Disappointment reigns once again.
I say “once again” because scratching from swim meets is becoming a trend for our sport’s greatest. Say what you will about sporting superstars like Brett Farve, but the guy shows up. By my own count, Phelps has scratched three Grand Prix events in 2010. Columbus, Missouri (though that was due to weather) and now Minnesota.
And he hasn’t just scratched meets. He’s scratched individual races. Remember the Pan Pacs 200 IM? When the world expected an epic rematch against IMing rival Ryan Lochte? He scratched the morning of – no injury, no sickness.
There's also another take on this at Universal Sports.
So, what's up? It's all very disappointing. Maybe he's just getting bored. I know he's said London will be his swan song, but he might even be well advised to retire before that- he wouldn't want to take his final bow after having been beaten to the gold by guys like Clary or Lochte. Or heaven forbid, Cavic!
Former Member
Ah, so apparently they were spotted together in the Grove in Los Angeles. I've been there, it's a wonderful little shopping area, but it's not Baltimore and it's not a pool, which is where Michael Phelps said he'd be a month after Irvine. It's been much more than a month now.
I think Phelps needs to realize he wants to retire. He's the greatest Olympian of all time, he's done it... there's nowhere to go but down... he should get his life started.
I think we can assume the following:
1) It would be fun to be 25 and have tens of millions of dollars.
2) Swimming 10K a day is alot easier to do when you have something to prove.
I think the fire has been extinquished. When he lost this summer he didn't take it personally (from the very limited reactions I saw on TV).
he should get his life started.
His life can only start when he's done swimming?
I wouldn't count him out yet. Clearly he doesn't have the motivation he once did, but I have a feeling he'll be ready when he needs to be.
It seems to me that Phelps is (was) more active than many other peers at his level in terms of national and grand prix meets. Peirsol and Coughlin are two that seemingly only show up at the biggest of meets when it comes time. Like them, I don't expect Phelps to have any problems when he decides to get back 100%. Even though he is regarded as the best swimmer of all time, I still hope to see him surpass the total Olympic medal record (18 to his 16).
Being #1 over a 9 year span (instead of 5) would be significantly harder for future athletes to duplicate and therein lies the reason to keep going. Nothing is a lock, but he'd be good for 2-3 golds at the minimum imo.
I wouldn't count him out yet. Clearly he doesn't have the motivation he once did, but I have a feeling he'll be ready when he needs to be.I'm with you. I don't think he'll show up for 2012 trials or the games unless he intends to win. As a professional athlete with sponsor $$ behind him and a stated intention to swim in London, I think he'll be there and be in top form. He's got loads of time to get into top form for 2012. So, I think he'll be there and be as ready as possible.
As for winning multiple golds, though, I think he'll have some tough fights. Unless he chooses his events very strategically, I think he's got a strong chance of seeing some silver especially if he's head-to-head with Lochte in an IM. Lochte's got the momentum and a lot more to prove. I still say Phelps wins the flys if he swims them.
He's one lucky son of a ***. He seems even more polygamous than Tiger Woods... except without, you know, the marriage part.
Is it premarital sex if you have absolutely no intention of ever getting married?
I think he has lost a lot of motivation
in london 2012
200 IM --> lochte will kick his ass
200 free --> lochte, I don't know what happened to biderman
100 fly --> he can win it, I haven't seen cavic times this year
200 --> he owns that race
I think it was Ed Moses who pointed out that if you look at the splits at the 100 in the 400 IM, Ryan's just a wee bit behind Phelps after Phelps's strongest leg. He seemed to hint at the fact that Lochte is thinking about taking out Phelps in the 200 fly!
In London Lochte will definitely do 2/4 IM, 1/2 back, 200 free (to get on the relay and to go for gold), and he might try to beat the 8 gold mark by also doing the 200fly!
I completely agree with you. Lochte could very well be a threat in the 200 fly. 2011 will be very interesting and give a pretty good preview of 2012.
Lochte seems like he can do it all now. :bow:
