Eat, Sleep, Swim Repeat

Article # 1Eat, Sleep, Swim RepeatBy: Madison HillHave you been watching the Beijing Olympics? Everyone knows about the horses on drugs, to the world’s fastest man with a record breaking 19.35 seconds in the 200 meter dash. But have you been aware that six more records were broken in Beijing? He broke four individual events, one with his relay team, and one with most Olympic gold medals received in one Olympics. Can you guess who that person is? That person is Michael Phelps.Phelps appeared in the past two summer Olympics which was Athens, Greece ( 2004 ) and in Sydney, Australia ( 2000 ) in which he received six gold medals. In Beijing he received eight gold medals coming to a total of thir-teen gold medals in his career.Phelps was born on June 30, 1985 in Baltimore, Maryland. Weighing one hundred and ninety-five pounds, twenty-three year old Phelps grew up to be six foot four, with an arm spam of six foot seven which gives him more of an advantage of hitting the wall first. Michael may look like a typical swimmer, but he isn’t. His torso is longer compared to his legs allowing him to stay above the water better. He has flexible ankles, plus size four-teen feet which gives him a powerful kick. He moved out of his home for the first time to go to Michigan Collage, were he now trains. When Phelps was a kid, he had a hard time focusing in school. His teacher said to his mom that he will never be able to achieve or focus on anything, but that was until Phelps discovered swimming at the age of seven. At the age of twelve, Phelps parents were informed that he could make the 2000 summer Olympic team, and also that 2004 and 2008 could be a target also.Coming in to Beijing, Phelps qualified for 200 meter freestyle, 100 and 200 meter butterfly, 200 and 400 meter individual medley, 4x100 and 4x200 meters freestyle relay. Four years ago in the Athens Olympics, Phelps would have gotten eight medals if he participated in the 4x100 medley relay, instead he let one of his teammates get the gold medal. Well, Phelps was in the same situation this year too. So, Phelps teammate, the one who he gave up his position for, gave up his spot on the 4x100 meter relay so Phelps could get his eighth gold medal in Beijing. That was true sportsmanship.