Phelps looks ahead to London Games
By Ma Yue and Ni Yinbin |
August 2, 2011, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE 14th FINA World Championships in Shanghai were Michael Phelps' last worlds as he turns his focus to the London Olympic Games next year.
After collecting four titles at Oriental Sports Center pool, the most successful American swimmer now has a total of 25 World Championships gold medals. And it was only after he led the United States to victory in the 4x100 meters medley relay to conclude the tournament on Sunday night that Phelps realized it was his last worlds appearance.
"It's a weird feeling to think about it and tell myself that, well, that's my last race in the world championships," the Baltimore native said.
The four golds, two silvers and one bronze in Shanghai provide a clue to the 26-year-old's expectations in London, which will also be his last outing in a major international event.
"What happened here is going to make this year even better. Training wise, preparation wise and I think the biggest thing here is building on the confidence I have."
Phelps spoke to reporters yesterday after he was named the Special Olympics global ambassador. The Michael Phelps Foundation will expand its signature "IM" program through an international pilot program with the Special Olympics, with the purpose of raising awareness towards people with intellectual disabilities. The "IM" program is designed to encourage a healthy and active lifestyle.
Among the 16 pool golds the US collected during the past week, Phelps triumphed in the 100 and 200 butterfly, and the 4x200 freestyle and 4x100 medley relays even though he was upstaged by teammate and rival Ryan Lochte who clinched five titles. Lochte beat Phelps in the 200 freestyle.
"I'm a perfectionist. I always set high goals. It's frustrating. I'm fairly satisfied but at the end of the day it's hard for me to be totally satisfied. I know I can go faster, I can go a lot faster I think," Phelps conceded.
"The only person I can control is myself - I race as hard as I can and whatever happens I can learn from that and I move on to the next race."
Phelps reached the zenith of his career when he won eight gold medals and broke seven world records at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Adding the six golds and two bronzes he collected in Athens in 2004, he holds a total of 16 Olympic medals, second only to the 18 Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina won over three Olympics, including nine golds. The chance of breaking Latynina's record is high after Phelps showed his dominance in his favorite butterfly events.
Working on a 8-10 months training plan, the main job for the American now will be to get ready for London, where he might face Ian Thorpe in the 200 freestyle, the Aussie having returned to the pool after quitting competition in 2006.
Phelps and Thorpe, along with Dutchman Pieter van den Hoogenband, provided a memorable showdown in the 200 freestyle at the Athens Olympics, which was dubbed the 'Race of the Century' and Phelps looked forward to another one in London.
"The 200 free has turned into a fun event. Just being able to have the chance to swim in a race with Thorpe again is something I will be looking forward to," the American said. "I've only had two races with him in my career and being able to have him back in the pool will be exciting for the sport."
Later during a sponsored activity, Phelps spoke about his expectations for the US team in London.
"I think our team has been able to understand that we have to work harder regarding the technology that has changed our sport - to help our bodies to be in better shape - and we're going to be ready to go," he said alluding to the controversial swimsuits, which, during the 2010 Rome worlds, led to a string of world records. "There is going to be a lot of competition (in London)."
At the Shanghai worlds, only two records were smashed - Lochte won the 200 IM in a new time and China's Sun Yang buried Australian great Grant Hackett's 10-year mark in the 1,500 meters.
After collecting four titles at Oriental Sports Center pool, the most successful American swimmer now has a total of 25 World Championships gold medals. And it was only after he led the United States to victory in the 4x100 meters medley relay to conclude the tournament on Sunday night that Phelps realized it was his last worlds appearance.
"It's a weird feeling to think about it and tell myself that, well, that's my last race in the world championships," the Baltimore native said.
The four golds, two silvers and one bronze in Shanghai provide a clue to the 26-year-old's expectations in London, which will also be his last outing in a major international event.
"What happened here is going to make this year even better. Training wise, preparation wise and I think the biggest thing here is building on the confidence I have."
Phelps spoke to reporters yesterday after he was named the Special Olympics global ambassador. The Michael Phelps Foundation will expand its signature "IM" program through an international pilot program with the Special Olympics, with the purpose of raising awareness towards people with intellectual disabilities. The "IM" program is designed to encourage a healthy and active lifestyle.
Among the 16 pool golds the US collected during the past week, Phelps triumphed in the 100 and 200 butterfly, and the 4x200 freestyle and 4x100 medley relays even though he was upstaged by teammate and rival Ryan Lochte who clinched five titles. Lochte beat Phelps in the 200 freestyle.
"I'm a perfectionist. I always set high goals. It's frustrating. I'm fairly satisfied but at the end of the day it's hard for me to be totally satisfied. I know I can go faster, I can go a lot faster I think," Phelps conceded.
"The only person I can control is myself - I race as hard as I can and whatever happens I can learn from that and I move on to the next race."
Phelps reached the zenith of his career when he won eight gold medals and broke seven world records at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Adding the six golds and two bronzes he collected in Athens in 2004, he holds a total of 16 Olympic medals, second only to the 18 Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina won over three Olympics, including nine golds. The chance of breaking Latynina's record is high after Phelps showed his dominance in his favorite butterfly events.
Working on a 8-10 months training plan, the main job for the American now will be to get ready for London, where he might face Ian Thorpe in the 200 freestyle, the Aussie having returned to the pool after quitting competition in 2006.
Phelps and Thorpe, along with Dutchman Pieter van den Hoogenband, provided a memorable showdown in the 200 freestyle at the Athens Olympics, which was dubbed the 'Race of the Century' and Phelps looked forward to another one in London.
"The 200 free has turned into a fun event. Just being able to have the chance to swim in a race with Thorpe again is something I will be looking forward to," the American said. "I've only had two races with him in my career and being able to have him back in the pool will be exciting for the sport."
Later during a sponsored activity, Phelps spoke about his expectations for the US team in London.
"I think our team has been able to understand that we have to work harder regarding the technology that has changed our sport - to help our bodies to be in better shape - and we're going to be ready to go," he said alluding to the controversial swimsuits, which, during the 2010 Rome worlds, led to a string of world records. "There is going to be a lot of competition (in London)."
At the Shanghai worlds, only two records were smashed - Lochte won the 200 IM in a new time and China's Sun Yang buried Australian great Grant Hackett's 10-year mark in the 1,500 meters.
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