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Olympic swimming legend Michael Phelps has 14 Olympic gold medals, eight from the 2008 games in Beijing, China. He has broken 34 world records and counting. Out of the pool, however, he has suffered from a few lapses in judgment. At 24 years old, he has already seen the pros and cons of great success and becoming a celebrity athlete. He was in Pittsburgh Saturday for the opening of the new GNC store at Ross Park Mall, where he also promoted PureSport, a new performance drink he helped develop with other elite athletes.
What's it like getting back into the practice and prep after you've taken time off?
It's hard, you know, taking time out of the water and then having to get back in. It's not possible unless you're motivated and you actually want to do it. I think that's the biggest thing about it. It's really trying to really fight through the pain. When you take an extended period of time off, your body goes through pain it's not used to [when you start practicing again]. So I am going through that right now and trying to get back on track for the next couple of years.
See the Have you ever tried swimming in one of those new suits that have been banned from the Olympics?
No, just because I've always worn the suits that I've worn. Speedo is the company that I am going to wear for the rest of my career. That's the only suit I'm ever gonna have on.
I understand but just wondered if you were curious how fast you could go in the banned suit.
No, not really. I've never touched it. Never put one on. Never did anything [laughing].
You are a legend and you are still only in your 20s. What does that kind of success do to your self-image?
I have no idea. I've never thought about that. The reason I've done everything I've done is because I've wanted to do it. I've shown myself, and really anybody out there, that if you put your mind to something, you can do it. That is the only reason I am here. I wanted something, and I wasn't going to give up until I got it. And I got it. Now it's time to refocus and get back to something else that I want to put my mind to. That's how I've always approached things.
That takes a certain kind of discipline. Was it something you developed or did it come naturally to you?
I don't know. I think it's a mix of both. If I have a passion about something then nothing will really stand in my way, except myself. I've always been like that from a very young age. I've always set goals for myself. Once I achieve those goals, I've gone on and moved to bigger goals. So I think over time it's just become an easier thing to do, because I am used to it.
Did you do anything in particular to adjust to the media attention after Beijing? Were you prepared for it?
I think in some ways I was and in some ways I wasn't. I think in '04 I was able to go through it, but I was a deer in the headlights. In '08 I went through kind of the same things that I did after '04. I was more prepared for what was going to happen, [but] I didn't know what level it was going to be on. In a certain way, I was kind of prepared for the exposure that was going to happen for the sport.
Was there any particular race during the 2008 Olympics that meant more?
I don't think so. I think every race was just incredible. You know the biggest thing was, I am able to look back at my time in Beijing and remember. There's not one particular memory that stands out, but it's the whole week that I'm going to remember for the rest of my life. That will always be with me forever. I think that's something that is very special and meaningful.
I'm curious, what did you tell PureSport you were looking for in a performance drink?
One of the biggest things for me is I want to feel comfortable with the product. I want to feel like I like it and I want it to be a part of my regimen. So the biggest thing for me is that it is something that is good and tastes good and helps and is quick and easy. After my races, literally within five minutes, I have a recovery drink in my system. Also, it's not milk-based. When I have a bunch of events back to back to back, [it's important] my stomach is not getting upset. I am able to see results and I'm happy with it. It tastes good and I want to drink it. I am not forcing myself to do it. If you are really passionate about something, which I am about all of my sponsors, then that is even better.
That's nice, but I'm sure when you first started swimming sponsorships and interviews were the last thing on your mind.
[Laughing.] You know, it was. But I love doing this. I still love doing it, you know? This is my profession. So I know everything that goes along with it, and I'm still enjoying it. That's all that matters.
Everybody should get a least one do-over in life. Would yours be to have the tabloids ignore you?
Um, you know, I think everything happens for a reason in life, whether it's a good thing or a bad thing. I think it's just always how you handle yourself and how you move from one thing to the next. Yeah, I'll be the person to admit I haven't had the most perfect life, crystal-clear life, but the things that I went through changed me as a person. They made me a better person, I think. That's all I can ask for. I've had the best of the best moments, but I've had the worst of the worst. It is part of life. You can make mistakes, and if you never make the same mistake again then you're always going to be successful. That's one thing that somebody told me at the University of Michigan. You can learn from all your mistakes. I think everybody makes mistakes. Yeah, my mistakes definitely weren't the best, and it's very hard to go through, but the support system that I have helped me. My friends, my family and, you know, my sponsors were there as well, supporting me through it. So I have a great support team and that's one of the good things about it.
You've got a mother who loves you, money, fame and lots of gold. Any new goals or ambitions outside of the pool?
I have some things. Bob, my coach, and I are working on some things coming up soon that are almost going to be public. We are still finishing some things up. We have some things that we're extremely passionate about that we are working on. We hope we can change the sport even more for the future -- you know, for kids of all ages, people in general. It's something that when my swimming career is all over, I am hoping to have a bigger role in. So look for something in the next couple of weeks.
Mackenzie Carpenter's video program, "Omnivore," is available exclusively at PG+, a members-only web site of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.
