Phelps ignores training criticism
Source: AFP |
July 14, 2012, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
MICHAEL Phelps, criticized by a fellow US Olympic swimmer about his work ethic earlier this week, said on Thursday he plans to let his swimming do the talking for him about the subject.
Phelps won a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and six golds and two bronzes at the 2004 Athens Games.
Tyler Clary, in comments to the Riverside Press-Enterprise newspaper in his California hometown, spoke about a poor work ethic from Phelps when they were at the University of Michigan together.
"I saw a real lack of preparation (from) him," Clary said. "Basically he was a swimmer that didn't want to be there. They can talk about all of these goals and plans and preparation they have. I saw it. I know. It's different. And I saw somebody that has basically been asking to get beat for the longest time."
Asked to respond, Phelps made it clear he was not concerned what anyone else had to say about his motivation.
"For me right now the only thing I'm worried about is myself and preparing myself to go out and represent my country and step up and wear the stars and stripes and try to swim as fast as I can," Phelps said. "There's nothing else that needs to be said about it."
Clary said that he works harder than Phelps. "The fact that I know I work harder than he does makes me appreciate every little goal and every little gain that I make," he said. "The fact that he doesn't have to work as hard to get that done, it's a real shame. I think the things he could have done if he had worked as hard as I do would have been even more incredible than what he has pulled off."
Phelps will compete in seven events at the London Olympics. Clary will swim the 200 butterfly and 200 backstroke in his first Olympics.
Clary said he regretted the distraction and said he has spoken to Phelps and there were no hard feelings between them. "It was more of a relief to me to make sure that he knew that's not how I feel about him," he said.
Phelps won a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and six golds and two bronzes at the 2004 Athens Games.
Tyler Clary, in comments to the Riverside Press-Enterprise newspaper in his California hometown, spoke about a poor work ethic from Phelps when they were at the University of Michigan together.
"I saw a real lack of preparation (from) him," Clary said. "Basically he was a swimmer that didn't want to be there. They can talk about all of these goals and plans and preparation they have. I saw it. I know. It's different. And I saw somebody that has basically been asking to get beat for the longest time."
Asked to respond, Phelps made it clear he was not concerned what anyone else had to say about his motivation.
"For me right now the only thing I'm worried about is myself and preparing myself to go out and represent my country and step up and wear the stars and stripes and try to swim as fast as I can," Phelps said. "There's nothing else that needs to be said about it."
Clary said that he works harder than Phelps. "The fact that I know I work harder than he does makes me appreciate every little goal and every little gain that I make," he said. "The fact that he doesn't have to work as hard to get that done, it's a real shame. I think the things he could have done if he had worked as hard as I do would have been even more incredible than what he has pulled off."
Phelps will compete in seven events at the London Olympics. Clary will swim the 200 butterfly and 200 backstroke in his first Olympics.
Clary said he regretted the distraction and said he has spoken to Phelps and there were no hard feelings between them. "It was more of a relief to me to make sure that he knew that's not how I feel about him," he said.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
