Members SnCCorinthos4ever Posted August 13, 2008 Members Share Posted August 13, 2008 Phelps set to become the greatest Olympian in history. http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/beijing_o...5014104,00.html Michael Phelps could become the greatest Olympian today MICHAEL Phelps is one gold medal away from becoming the greatest Olympic competitor the world has seen. His amazing world record-breaking victory in the 200m freestyle yesterday brought his career gold medal tally to nine, six in Athens four years ago and three so far in Beijing. He has now joined the exalted ranks of fellow swimmer Mark Spitz, American sprinter Carl Lewis, Finnish distance great Paavo Nurmi and Soviet gymnast Larissa Latynina, who all won nine gold medals, but with five medal events left to swim this week, Phelps seems certain to eclipse them all. "To be tied for the most Olympic gold with those names, it's a pretty amazing accomplishment," Phelps said. "I didn't even know it was possible until earlier this year when Bob (Bowman, his coach) told me. Right after the 200m freestyle he goes, "Well, you are tied' and I thought "Oh, that's pretty cool'." With every race, Phelps eliminates all doubt that he can also reach Spitz's single Games tally of seven gold medals, and this Games will not be the end. He still plans on contesting a fourth Olympics in London in 2012. Today, he will complete his signature event, the 200m butterfly, in which he has stood undefeated since he took the world record as a 15-year-old in 2001, before combining with his teammates in the 4x200m freestyle relay, for which they are the overwhelming favourites. Phelps has the air of a man who can do at least five miraculous things before lunchtime without blinking, but his performance yesterday was jaw-dropping even by his standards. Having broken Ian Thorpe's world record in Melbourne last year, he tore the event apart yesterday, stopping the clock in a phenomenal 1:42.96, taking almost a second from his previous best time of 1:43.86. Thorpe, whose best was 1:44.06, got out at the right time. Phelps' extraordinary underwater kicking off the walls has given him a weapon against which his competitors appear defenceless. The Olympic 400m freestyle gold medallist Park Tae-Hwan of South Korea shaped as his nearest challenger yesterday but was blown away in the first 100m. He is the third fastest swimmer in history (1:44.85) after Phelps and Thorpe and yet is not in the race. But Thorpe does deserve some credit for helping make Phelps into the swimmer he is. The 23-year-old American acknowledged after the race, that being beaten by the Australian in Athens four years ago has driven him. "Four years ago, I just wanted to race those guys, but I hate to lose and getting third in the 200m freestyle four years ago ... when I lose in circumstances like that it motivates me more to try to swim faster," he said. "Over the last four years that has made me a better swimmer. "I think the biggest thing I have been able to improve on has been my underwaters." Phelps described his underwater streamlining and kicking as "perfect". "After my first three medal races, I have done everything I wanted to do," he said. At this stage, Phelps has contested three events for three gold medals and three world records. Arguably the biggest test, beating the French in the 4x100m freestyle relay, is over, although Phelps takes nothing for granted. "I am not even halfway done yet and I think the most important ones are what's coming up," he said. "I am lucky enough to have a recovery session tonight to catch up. I'll get as much sleep as I can." He is shovelling in pasta by the bucketload to keep his energy levels up and having daily massages and ice baths to sooth his muscles. Despite the ecstasy of the improbable American triumph in the 4x100m freestyle relay, Phelps said he had moved on. "It wasn't easy putting it behind me, with all the emotion that went into that relay, but I had to force myself to put it out of my head," Phelps said. "I have so many races, so much to do in every race, I have to keep 100 per cent focused." Fellow Olympic gold medallist Aaron Peirsol said it was Phelps' mental strength that separated him from the rest. "At this level I do believe it is more a mental game than it is anything and it takes a certain amount of guts to do what Michael is doing," Peirsol said. "He has just pushed us and we have all pushed each other, what Michael is doing is elevating everybody else's performance." Phelps is taking forward just one lesson from that relay race. "Jason (Lezak) just proved that anything is possible," Phelps said. "He was a body-length behind the world record-holder with one lap to go in a 100m freestyle race, and he came back and got his hand on the wall first." So why should winning eight gold medals at one Olympic Games be any less possible? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Toups Posted August 13, 2008 Author Administrator Share Posted August 13, 2008 Another Gold, another World Record for Phelps. But damn that NBC commentator for being so cocky, "he'll make them look like boys." Easy there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SnCCorinthos4ever Posted August 13, 2008 Members Share Posted August 13, 2008 Swimming results so far. Women's 200 metre freestyle. 1. Pellegrini (ITL) - New world record 2. Isakovic (SLO) 3. Pang (CHN) Men's 200 metre butterfly 1. Phelps (USA) - New world record 2. Cseh (HUN) 3. Matsuda ((JPN) Women's 200 metre individual medley 1. Rice (AUST) - New world record 2. Coventry (ZIM) 3. Coughlin (USA) Men's 4 x 200 freestyle 1. USA. - New world record 2. Russian Fed 3. Australia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Toups Posted August 13, 2008 Author Administrator Share Posted August 13, 2008 Wow, the American team just destroyed that world record and Phelps is now 5 for 5 (all world records). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SnCCorinthos4ever Posted August 13, 2008 Members Share Posted August 13, 2008 I can't wait for the Men's 100 metre freestyle. World record broken twice in the matter of 5 min and 5 seconds. With it now standing at 47.05 seconds I think that it will go to the 46 second mark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members soapluva Posted August 13, 2008 Members Share Posted August 13, 2008 My Mom asked the same question she has a soft spot for Canadians Don't worry guys the games aren't over yet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SnCCorinthos4ever Posted August 13, 2008 Members Share Posted August 13, 2008 Swimming finals for today. Men's 200 metre breaststroke Women's 200 metre butterfly Men's 100 metre freestyle - can they go under 47 seconds. (Me I would be lucky if I have gone 10 metre in that time) Women's 4 x 200 metre freestyle No Michael Phleps today. Other Medal Events. Canoe/Kayak Slalom Men's C2 Women's K1 Archery Women's individual Fencing Women's team sabre Artistic Gymnastics Men's individual all round Judo Women's 78kg Men's 100kg Shooting Women's 50 metre rifle 3 positions Women's skeet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Laurie Posted August 14, 2008 Members Share Posted August 14, 2008 LOL NBC showed just shown a clip of Misty May dancing on the Great Wall...she seems like such fun oustide of beach volleyball I enjoy watching Misty and Karrie. Though I can't wait for the swimming Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SnCCorinthos4ever Posted August 14, 2008 Members Share Posted August 14, 2008 Men's 200 metre breaststroke 1. Kitajima (JPN) - New Olympic record 2. Rickard (Aust) 3. Duboscq (FRA) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Evan Posted August 14, 2008 Members Share Posted August 14, 2008 Michael Phelps can't win any more gold medals today, the other swimmers must be relieved LOL Phelps is a legend! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SnCCorinthos4ever Posted August 14, 2008 Members Share Posted August 14, 2008 Women's 200 metre butterfly 1. Liu (CHN) - New world record 2. Jiao (CHN) 3. Schipper (AUST) Men's 100 metre freestyle 1. Bernard (FRA) 2. Sullivan (AUST) 3. Lezak (USA) & Cielo Filho (BRA) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SnCCorinthos4ever Posted August 14, 2008 Members Share Posted August 14, 2008 Women's 4 x 200 freestyle 1. Australia - New world record 2. China 3. USA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Roman Posted August 14, 2008 Members Share Posted August 14, 2008 Andrea Joyce is a real piece of work. She really got silly with that gymnast who fell off the balance beam. "Excuse me.......how bad do you feel finding out how bad you suck on the world stage?" I'm just paraphrasing, but, damn......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SnCCorinthos4ever Posted August 14, 2008 Members Share Posted August 14, 2008 Today's Swimming final's Women's 200 metre breastroke Men's 200 metre backstroke Men's 200 metre individual medley - can Phelps make it 6 from 6 or will Lochte upset the apple cart. Women's 100 metre freestyle - can Trickett win it from lane 8 like Perkin's did in Atlanta after just scrapping into the 1500 metre final. Other Medal event's for today. Athletic's Men's shot put. Women's 10,000 metre final Judo Men's 100+kg Women's 78+kg Shooting Men's 50 metre rifle prone Track Cycling Men's team sprint Artistic Gymnastics Women's all-round Weightlifting Women's 75kg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SnCCorinthos4ever Posted August 14, 2008 Members Share Posted August 14, 2008 The diet of a champion. http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,,...5006922,00.html Swim star Michael Phelps fuelled by 12,000 calorie a day diet A BREAKFAST of champions is more than just a bowl of Weet-Bix for US swimming superstar Michael Phelps. The 23-year-old is swimming his way into the record books fuelled by 12,000 calories a day. That's six times the average calorie intake for a 23-year-old man. NBC America revealed Phelps starts the day at 5am with three fried egg sandwiches topped with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, fried onions, and mayonnaise. That's followed by a five-egg omelet, a bowl of grits (porridge), three slices of French toast with powdered sugar, and three chocolate-chip pancakes, all washed down with two cups of coffee. By lunchtime though Phelps, who is contesting eight events in Beijing, needs refuelling. That comes in the form of half a kilo of enriched pasta, two large ham and cheese sandwiches on white bread with mayonnaise, and nearly 1,000 calories worth of energy drinks. Phelps told NBC his competition regime was all about getting "some calories into my system and try to recover the best I can". After a hard day's slog at the pool Phelps ends his day with another round calorie and carbohydrate loading. Dinner consists of another half a kilo of pasta followed by an entire pizza and another 1,000 calories of energy drinks. The massive menu is needed every day to fuel Phelps' five-hour long pool sessions six days a week. "Eat, sleep and swim. That's all I do," Phelps told NBC. Phelps, who holds the world records in the 200m freestyle, 200m butterfly and the 200m and 400m individual medleys, will go for gold in the 200m individual medley today. On the Menu 5.00 am Three fried egg sandwiches topped with cheese, lettuse, tomatoes, fried onions and mayonnaise. Mid morning snack Five-egg omelette, porridge, three slices of French Toast with sugar, three chocolate ship pancakes and two cups of coffee. Lunch Half a kilo of enriched pasta, two large ham and cheese sandwiches with mayonnaise and almost 4200 kilojoules worth of energy drinks. Dinner Another half a kilo of pasta, a whole pizza and another 4200 kilojoules of energy drinks. Half a kilo = 1.102 pounds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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