Phelps out of retirement

Phelps out of retirement

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944fan

Original Poster:

4,962 posts

184 months

Sunday 20th April 2014
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Not a great surprise as it was reported 6 months ago that he had re-enrolled in the drug testing programme.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/swimming/27028517

I suppose if anyone can do it he can but I can't help wonder what on earth his motivation is. I have read both his biographies and he is completely driven by winning above all else. Perhaps he will be able to again but age is certainly not on his side.

Regardless it will be great to see him swim again and I hope he does well. Just need to find some way of watching the meet. Hopefully it will be streamed on the Web.

Rich_W

12,548 posts

211 months

Monday 21st April 2014
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If you look at someone like Ian Thorpe. Who suffered serious depression after retiring.

You can possibly imagine that Phelps has found it difficult to adjust to non competitive life. He wouldn't be alone in that. Lots of sportsman, particularly the successful ones struggle after retirement.

Wonder if that pushed him to return. Too much free time.

Celtic Dragon

3,161 posts

234 months

Monday 21st April 2014
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I wouldn't say too much free time, I'd say no motivation to do anything. Having known a couple of olympians, they really do live, breath and compete until they cannot physically compete at that level anymore.

944fan

Original Poster:

4,962 posts

184 months

Thursday 24th April 2014
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http://www.swmeets.com/Realtime/Grand%20Prix/2014/...

Gone 1st in the 100 fly prelims, edging Lochte by a 10th of a second. 3 seconds off WR pace but for first competitive soon in 18 months is pretty good.

Obviously still has it.

Ray Luxury-Yacht

8,910 posts

215 months

Thursday 24th April 2014
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Hope it won't be another Schumacher type disappointment...

Good to see, at any rate.


Otispunkmeyer

12,558 posts

154 months

Friday 25th April 2014
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Good to see him back. From Facebook he seemed like he was having a nice time in retirement and was keeping busy with charitable things.

The man is born and built to swim though. If anyone can do it he can. I hope he keeps it specific though. Maybe 50/100 fly, 200 IM for a fun event and of course the relays (though maybe only the IM, and even then I'd be tempted to let new guys have all the relay spots)

It must be hard though because at that level in swimming your nearest friends are your coach and the black line at the bottom of the pool!

Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Saturday 26th April 12:14

Highway Star

3,573 posts

230 months

Friday 25th April 2014
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Otispunkmeyer said:
Maybe 50/100 fly, 200 IM for a fun event and of course the relays (though maybe only the IM, and even then I'd be tempted to let new guys have all the relay spots)
Indeed, can't see him doing many 200 flys and 400 IMs.

See he came second in the final, behind Lochte. But 52.1 ain't bad - would have won the British Champs last week by nearly half a second.

BBC article said that that was 2 seconds off his WR, but that was a fully suited time IIRC and no-one world-wide has been close to getting sub 50 on 100 fly since. He's probably 1 second only off a time it would take to win a World Champs.

OneDs

1,628 posts

175 months

Friday 25th April 2014
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Be interesting to see what he focuses on, there's too much competition and specialist/freaks on 50's, even on hundreds he may struggle, 200fly is a good one, but I know this sounds mad, to me he never looked like the most natural flyer, more of a Steve Parry (guts and hard work) than a James Hickman (effortless and fluid) if you follow me. So it will be good to see if he can run Le Clos et al close.

Good to see they had a 17 yo in the final doing 53.4 holy crap!

Edited by OneDs on Friday 25th April 23:32

944fan

Original Poster:

4,962 posts

184 months

Saturday 26th April 2014
quotequote all
Highway Star said:
Indeed, can't see him doing many 200 flys and 400 IMs.

See he came second in the final, behind Lochte. But 52.1 ain't bad - would have won the British Champs last week by nearly half a second.

BBC article said that that was 2 seconds off his WR, but that was a fully suited time IIRC and no-one world-wide has been close to getting sub 50 on 100 fly since. He's probably 1 second only off a time it would take to win a World Champs.
He said in the press conference he wont be doing any IMs I think. Can't blame him.

52.1 is very good for someone who has not swum competitively for 18 months, was still 3 KG over-weight and by the looks of it didn't even bother shaving.

Otispunkmeyer

12,558 posts

154 months

Saturday 26th April 2014
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Watched the video of this race this morning (USA swimming filmed it it seems) and Phelps and Lochte were interviewed poolside after the race. Of course, Rio was mentioned and while it would be nice, I don't think he'll go. If I were him I don't think I'd go either. I'd stick to a nicer work/training/life balance and just enter competitions for a bit of fun and enjoyment. Not sure thats within his mentality, but I can only assume that come 2016 there'll be more than a couple of new guys ready to displace him from the medals and maybe even the finals altogether.

I don't want to see him fizzle out like a lot of sports stars who stay around too long.


DJRC

23,563 posts

235 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
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Otis...IIRC arent/werent you half decent/serious swimmer?

Do you really see Phelps doing allthis and it NOT being for a serious shot at a gold?

OneDs

1,628 posts

175 months

Monday 28th April 2014
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You could see that this is a wind down process, not a wind up process for sure.... Keeps him in and around an existing support network and perhaps he can offer his expertise and experience to the younger breed. Perhaps if he wants to go to the coaching/administration side then this is part of maintaining and active role in the sport while that happens.

Most likely he's made the decision based on the fact that he'd still be winning golds at 95% of his best especially at the worlds last year.