• July 19, 2004
• Vol. 62
• No. 3

Michael Phelps

By Pam Lambert

Is This Pool Shark the U.S.'s Best Swimmer Ever?

At age 7 Michael Phelps was sent to a weekly swim clinic by his mom. Although the Olympian-to-be could do the backstroke well enough, "he was afraid to put his face in the water," remembers John Cadigan, manager of the Meadowbrook Aquatic and Fitness Center, where Phelps still trains. "He couldn't do it."

But now, on the verge of the Athens Olympics, it's the 6'4", 195-lb. Phelps, 19, who gives his competitors phobias. "He's one of the most talented swimmers of all time," says Olympic gold medalist Matt Biondi. Propelled by size-14 feet and big paddle like hands, Phelps is expected to dominate in the 100/200 butterfly, 200/400 individual medley and 200-meter freestyle. In fact, Phelps is one of the few world-class swimmers who excels at more than one or two strokes: the back, butterfly and freestyle. In a span of 41 days last summer he shattered seven world records. "He's a once-in-a-lifetime athlete," says Cadigan.

Even without the $1 million bonus one of his sponsors has offered Phelps if he matches Mark Spitz's 1972 haul of seven golds, those who know him say this driven competitor won't settle for silver. After finishing second at last year's worlds in the 100-meter butterfly to teammate Ian Crocker, Phelps taped Crocker's photo to his bedroom wall for motivation. "That fear of failure drives him harder," says mom Debbie, 53. Phelps's grueling training regimen—two to five hours a day—includes swimming and light weightlifting. Not an in-your-face-type competitor, he exudes, says his mom, "a quiet confidence." Adds Cadigan: "He's got a remarkable ability to focus." Phelps' prerace ritual includes blasting music—usually rap—on his headphones. "He goes into his zone," says Cadigan. "He thinks in his head how he's going to swim."

Phelps's many endorsement deals have made him a millionaire since he turned pro at 16. He's bought a used Cadillac Escalade for himself and a Mercedes-Benz ML320 SUV for Debbie, who is divorced from Phelps's father, Fred. "Michael told me, It's for all the Gatorade you bought me,'" she says. In the Baltimore townhouse they share, the 2003 Towson, Md., high school grad kicks back with tracks from rappers 50 Cent and Eminem or by playing PlayStation 2 video games.

Debbie will be in Athens, along with Michael's two older sisters, Hilary, 26, and Whitney, 24. At poolside, look for Debbie and her son to be flashing each other their personal hand signal, the letter C for composure. But Michael already seems to have gotten the message. "I want to be the first Michael Phelps," he says. "Not the next Mark Spitz."

Pam Lambert. Cynthia Wang and Ron Arias in Los Angeles, Barbara Sandler in Chicago and Melody Simmons in Baltimore

• Contributors:
• Cynthia Wang,
• Ron Arias,
• Barbara Sandler,
• Melody Simmons.

More From This Article

Still Golden

If anyone understands the glittering prospects—and great pressure—awaiting Michael Phelps, it's Mark Spitz. At the '72 Munich Olympics, he won an unprecedented seven swimming golds and was instantly transformed into an American idol. "I coped with pressure by challenging myself," says Spitz. "Michael appears to be handling it well. He's all about focus and winning," says Spitz, now 54, who will be watching in Athens as the teen tries to shatter his medal tally. "It will be a great thing for swimming—and for the Olympics." Spitz parlayed his own gold into a lucrative career as a corporate spokesman, stockbroker and motivational speaker. Based in L.A., he has been happily married for 31 years to Suzy, a homemaker. The father of two still swims—several times a week at UCLA—but only to stay in shape. He avoids Masters competitions. "Eighty percent of Masters do compete," he says. "I'm in the 20 percent who don't. Been there. Done that."