Tensions ran high during the 2004 Athens Olympic when young teenage swimmer Michael Phelps took the stage. Many fans expect him to win 8 medals, and beat Mark Spitz’s record of 7. Can the young swimmer pull it off? Day three, Phelps chose to swim the 200M freestyle, even though he knew he wasn't favored in it. That didn’t stop him, though. Racing stroke against stroke against the 2 fastest freestylers of the time, Phelps placed third and won a well deserved bronze. To make sure that Ian Crocker, a fellow teammate, had a chance to redeem himself for an earlier mistake, Phelps gave up his spot on the relay afterwards. By the conclusion of the games, victory was for all. Phelps made the record-breaking 8 medals around his neck, and the relay had its own victory. Along the way, Phelps showed true colors of virtue, being caring, and marked the timeline with his accomplishments. Flying Fish (Michael Phelps) had just made a withstanding impact on this world, especially in the world of swimming
Achievements may not define a person, but that doesn’t mean they should be overlooked. Achievement awards are not given out lightly. You have to work and grind for it. Michael Phelps didn’t just hop in the pool, swim a few laps, hop out, and then claim a medal. No. He had to work for it, working every stroke to win a bronze, silver, or gold. With all his hardwork and his determined effort, Phelps managed to get all 8 medals, and beat the record. He worked hard, and his hard work paid off in the end. Phelps also held many Olympic and World records. In his 400M Individual Medley at the Olympics, he clocked a speedy 4:08.26 and set the world record. Throughout his career, Phelps continued to grab gold medals and set the bar high for new generations of swimmers to come. Hard work will pay off in the end, one way or the other. Let’s put it this way. You might not always get the exact desired result from hard work, but you most certainly won’t get it without hard work.
Caring for others is a skill you mustn't forget. It’s important, in some cases, to also consider other people’s feelings before acting rashly. Don’t also be selfish. During the same day he swam the 200M freestyle, Michael Phelps also faced the dilemma of a relay. Ian Crocker, a fellow teammate, had cost the team the gold medal at a relay earlier in the day. Phelps had been put in his place, and was expected to bring the team to victory. However, instead of just accepting it, Phelps doubled back, out of his spot, and gave it to Ian Crocker. "He wasn't feeling too well [then], and I was willing to give him a chance to step up," says (said) Phelps. "It was the right thing to do." This way, Phelps let Ian Crocker swim in his place, and at the end, Phelps proved that he was very kind and caring, and the relay still succeeded with a world-record win. Selfishness is evil. Slowly, it consumes you, but it will stop if you choose to step out of its shadow. Caring is an important skill. Not everyone will always be so kind and generous. So why don’t you do it first?
Virtues of a person are what defines them. It’s hard to tell what kind of person they are by looking at how they look. But virtues are the reasoning behind their actions and response, and maybe that is something that you can see who a person truly is. In the short biography of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games that was focused on Michael Phelps, the author truly shows all of Phelp’s good virtues. Phelps, for a start, is very ambitious. He knows his goals, he sets his goals, he knows what he wants, he knows how to get there, and he gets there. He doesn’t doubt himself, and only eats confidence. Phelps is also very determined, and is always seeking challenges for himself. For example, when he knew that he would not win the 200FR, he still swam it because he wanted a challenge. Obviously, Phelps is also very competitive, winning 8 medals, setting WR and OR, and breaking the record. Phelps really possesses some incredibly nice virtues. A good person usually has a nice virtue. Virtues are the core of someone, and the place where all the actions stem from.
Michael Phelps is truly a person to be remembered in history. From all of his achievements, records, medals, he is remembered today as one of the world’s most decorated athletes and best swimmers seen. His easygoing, confident, and caring personality also sets him apart from the typical man. Instead of grabbing everything for himself, he knows when to step down and let someone else have a turn. After all, he can’t do everything, and he knows that. His determined character and ambitions also led him to his success, and his unwillingness to back down from hard challenges could have boosted him to the peak. Today, Michael pHelps is also regarded as Flying Fish, and is one of the greatest swimmers in world history. He started competing nationally and internationally around his teenage years, and made it to the peak of the swimming world before retiring from the role of an athlete. Michael Phelps, best swimmer or not, still made a remarkable impact on the world we know today.
“The more you dream, the more you achieve.”
- Michael Phelps | American swimmer
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