I was thinking on how to continue with Part 2, but Phelps just helped me. Between my last post and the time of writing, Michael Phelps had won FIVE gold medals (all with new world records!) at this Beijing Olympic and ELEVEN in his career Olympic golds. He achieved immortality of being the most successful Olympian of all time (previous was nine gold medals), and he's not done yet.
Before the Games started, Phelps was asked if he could break Spitz's long-held record of winning the most (7) gold medals in one Olympic. He didn't cave in to the world's expectation. He said that was the media and the world's expectation of him, his own goal was never published. Well answered, like a true champion.
During yesterday's butterfly event, his strongest opponent was his eyewear. His goggles were filled up with water till he could hardly see. After touching the wall, he ripped them off and angrily looked at the board (not even around him), and realized he broke another world record. But he was still upset as he didn't swim below his targeted time. He certainly didn't care about world records! Just like the best of the bests, in his mind, Phelps is one who race only with himself. The others were just fighting for silvers, and felt honored just to be in the same pool as Phelps.
Phelps have three more events to go, and with the tougher events behind him, his only obstacle is himself. Will he be contented now and let the "best Olympian ever" title get into his head, or focus on the task at hand and achieve the impossible EIGHT?
Will he get out of his own way, like what he has been doing all along up till this point?
(to be continued)
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