Michael Phelps stands as the most decorated Olympian in history. While fans remember his gold medals and world records, his journey involved overcoming physical and mental hurdles that most people never saw. For instance, he possessed a wingspan that defied normal human proportions. Furthermore, he battled a severe childhood disorder that made sitting still nearly impossible. Prepare to dive in with the Flying Fish.
Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps started swimming on his back because of fear. As a child, he terrified himself at the thought of putting his face underwater. Therefore, his instructors allowed him to float on his back. Consequently, he mastered the backstroke before he ever learned the freestyle.
His wingspan stretches longer than his actual height. He stands six feet and four inches tall. However, his arms spread out to a massive six feet and seven inches. This ape-like index gives him a tremendous mechanical advantage when he pulls himself through the water.
A teacher told his mother he would never focus on anything. Doctors diagnosed him with ADHD in the sixth grade. His teacher insisted he lacked the ability to concentrate. Ironically, he later developed the ability to focus intensely for hours during grueling training sessions.
Michael Phelps swam the 2008 butterfly final effectively blind. His goggles filled with water immediately after he dove off the block. He could not see the wall or the lane markers. Thus, he relied entirely on counting his strokes to know exactly when to touch the wall.
He produces half the lactic acid of a normal athlete. During intense exercise, muscles produce lactic acid, which causes fatigue and burning. Uniquely, Phelps produces significantly less of this chemical. This allows him to recover much faster than his rivals between races.
His ankles bend further than a ballet dancer. His joints possess hypermobility. Specifically, his ankles can bend 15 degrees beyond the standard range. This allows his feet to act exactly like flippers that whip the water for maximum propulsion.
The 12,000-calorie diet was a massive exaggeration. Media outlets claimed he ate mountains of pizza and eggs every day. Phelps later clarified that he never ate that much. He admitted he ate a lot, but the number was likely closer to 8,000 calories during peak training.
He broke a record that stood for over 2,000 years. In 2016, he won his 13th individual gold medal. This victory broke the ancient record of Leonidas of Rhodes, a runner who won 12 titles in the Olympic Games of antiquity.
Michael Phelps sleeps in a chamber that simulates high altitude. To boost his endurance, he sleeps in a room with reduced oxygen levels. This forces his body to produce more red blood cells while he rests. Consequently, he delivers more oxygen to his muscles when he races.
He became the youngest male Olympian in 68 years. At just 15 years old, he qualified for the 2000 Sydney Games. Although he did not win a medal there, he started a career that would eventually overshadow every other swimmer in history.
His size 14 feet act as natural paddles. His large feet provide a massive surface area to push against the water. Furthermore, his short legs and long torso create the perfect hydrodynamic shape to reduce drag.
He raced a Great White Shark for television. In 2017, Discovery Channel organized a race between Phelps and a shark. However, fans felt disappointed because he raced against a computer-generated simulation of a shark rather than a real animal in the open ocean.
Purple circles on his back sparked a global trend. During the Rio Olympics, he appeared with dark bruises on his shoulders. These marks came from “cupping” therapy. This ancient technique uses suction to increase blood flow and speed up muscle recovery.
He holds more medals than 161 countries. His total count of 28 Olympic medals exceeds the entire historical total of many nations. For example, he has won more hardware alone than countries like Portugal or Peru have won in their entire history.
Finally, Michael Phelps sank the longest televised putt in golf history. After he retired, he focused on golf. During a celebrity tournament, he sank a putt from 159 feet away. The announcer went wild, proving that his winning touch extends beyond the swimming pool.
