Phelps' Performance

[Guest guest]

Again with the genetic determinism, easily discounting the endless

hours of swimming, the years of dedicated training, the obsession with

personal excellence.  And, charming as ever, the none too subtle

implication of cheating.  I suppose Spitz cheated too? Phelps has been a

preeminent swimmer for some time. World record holder at 15. Remember Athens and

before?

" As a young teenager, Phelps trained at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club under

coach Bob Bowman. At the age of 15, Phelps competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics

in Sydney, becoming the youngest American male swimmer at an Olympic Games in 68

years. While he did not win a medal, he was fifth in the 200 m Butterfly. Phelps

proceeded to make a name for himself in swimming shortly thereafter. Five months

after the Sydney Olympics, Phelps broke the world record in the 200 m butterfly

to become, at 15 years and 9 months, the youngest man ever to set a swimming

world record.[17] He then broke his own record at the World Championships in

Fukuoka, Japan (1:54.58). At the 2002 Summer Nationals in Fort Lauderdale,

Phelps also broke the world record for the 400 m individual medley and set

American marks in the 100 m butterfly and the 200 m individual medley.

In 2003, Phelps broke his own world record in the 400 m individual

medley (4:09.09) and in June, he broke the world record in the 200 m individual

medley (1:56.04). Then on July 7, 2004, Phelps broke his own world record again

in the 400 m individual medley (4:08.41) during the U.S. trials for the 2004

Summer Olympics.

In 2004, Phelps left North Baltimore Aquatic Club with Bob Bowman to train at

the University of Michigan for Club Wolverine. "  - Wikipedia

Having trained some Olympians I can attest from personal experience, that most

are loathe to cheat, they have too much pride. First most of them are

genetically gifted to begin with. They posses superior physical capacities.

Second they posses a burning desire to excel. No sacrifice is too great, no

training program too rigorous, no diet too strict. Third they will themselves to

power, they take natural ability and work much, much harder to develop it than

normal people.  Olympic athletes are the modern ubermensch, they are supermen,

and they will not be denied. They are like Navy Seals, except they play a sport.

They are way beyond normal, physically and mentally. If you had the opportunity

to train some of the people I've had the privilege to work with, people like

Tommy Gough, Weightlifter for the Marine Corps and 96 Olympian, or Zmelik

'92

Olympic Decathlon Champion, Gail Castro '96 Olympic Beach Volleyball

Team, Carl Heinkel, 96 Olympic Volleyball Team, Cook, Australian Beach

Volleyball Team and 4 time Olympian with 1 Bronze (Atlanta) and 1 Gold (Sydney),

now competing in Beijing, or Casey Burgener, who I consider an Olympian, you'd

have a greater appreciation for the kind of person you're talking about. But you

haven't and until you have I would appreciate it if you would avoid the cheesy,

easy implication of cheating until you have some proof. Further, your vapid

generalization that " Great genetics top diet by a longshot (sic)... " is still

not valid. The example I've used before to refute your position is Karch

Kiraly, who, at 6'2 " was one of the smaller Volleyball players of his era, but

became the best Volleyball player in the world because he began playing at age

5,  possesses tremendous analytical intelligence, passion for the sport and

tremendous work ethic. Genetic mutants? Yes, they often are, but superior

capacity is nothing without hard work, dedication, heart and an iron will.

" The superman embraces this idea of change which to him appears evident, he

understands the fact that since there is nothing in the world which is permanent

whatever exists must eventually be overcome

by something else which comes along. Seeing himself and his values in the same

light he knows that these aspects must also be overcome by something stronger if

not by him than by someone or something else. So in order to keep up with the

times he continuously reinvents himself over and over always building something

stronger, more powerful, on top of what went before. The superman therefore is

the ideal of someone who has mastered the practice of overcoming himself. "

What does not kill me, makes me stronger. - Friedrich Nietzsche

The world itself is the will to power - and nothing else! And you yourself are

the will to power - and nothing else!

- Friedrich Nietzsche

The

higher a man gets, the smaller he seems to those who cannot fly.

- Friedrich Nietzsche

W.G.

Ubermensch Sports Consultancy

San Diego, CA