Summer Olympic Games and School Swimming Phelps
Josh Barrett
Mrs. Sargent
English 10, P4
6 March 2013
Who is the Man in the Suit?
Michael Phelps is one of the most talented swimmers to race. Some classify him as an American hero, but he still had to work to what he has accomplished today. Phelps first started a swimming program around the age of nine because his mom had a fear of him drowning. An article said that “He joined a local program at the Loyola high school pool” (White). Without this program he would have never excelled as far as he did today. Phelps, at age of 15, became the youngest male swimmer to ever compete at the Olympic Games. During these games he wasn’t the biggest and fastest but he soon would become the best. Barra says “He didn’t win any medals at these games but he became a huge threat” (Barra). Lots of people don’t have this kind of experience like Phelps, but without this experience he wouldn’t know how to compete at this level later on in life. After high school swimming Phelps moved on to go to the University of Michigan while training for the Olympics. Lamm wrote “While at the university he won four gold medals and two silver medals at the Olympic Games” (Lamm). Even though Phelps made this much of an improvement without the specific training at Michigan, Phelps couldn’t have won those medals. Some people believe that Michael Phelps can be considered a tragic hero. The qualities of a tragic hero are having high rank, flaw, and a downfall caused by that flaw. People say that he could be classified as a tragic hero because he meets all of the qualities of one. Phelps is one of the most famous men in the swimming era. Michael Phelps currently has the most gold medals ever won by an Olympian in the history of the Olympic Games. An article states “Michael Phelps has a total of 22 medals won at the Olympics and the follower only having 18” (“Michael Phelps”). Not having the most medals no one would really know who Phelps was because swimming is only publicity streamed one time
Mrs. Sargent
English 10, P4
6 March 2013
Who is the Man in the Suit?
Michael Phelps is one of the most talented swimmers to race. Some classify him as an American hero, but he still had to work to what he has accomplished today. Phelps first started a swimming program around the age of nine because his mom had a fear of him drowning. An article said that “He joined a local program at the Loyola high school pool” (White). Without this program he would have never excelled as far as he did today. Phelps, at age of 15, became the youngest male swimmer to ever compete at the Olympic Games. During these games he wasn’t the biggest and fastest but he soon would become the best. Barra says “He didn’t win any medals at these games but he became a huge threat” (Barra). Lots of people don’t have this kind of experience like Phelps, but without this experience he wouldn’t know how to compete at this level later on in life. After high school swimming Phelps moved on to go to the University of Michigan while training for the Olympics. Lamm wrote “While at the university he won four gold medals and two silver medals at the Olympic Games” (Lamm). Even though Phelps made this much of an improvement without the specific training at Michigan, Phelps couldn’t have won those medals. Some people believe that Michael Phelps can be considered a tragic hero. The qualities of a tragic hero are having high rank, flaw, and a downfall caused by that flaw. People say that he could be classified as a tragic hero because he meets all of the qualities of one. Phelps is one of the most famous men in the swimming era. Michael Phelps currently has the most gold medals ever won by an Olympian in the history of the Olympic Games. An article states “Michael Phelps has a total of 22 medals won at the Olympics and the follower only having 18” (“Michael Phelps”). Not having the most medals no one would really know who Phelps was because swimming is only publicity streamed one time