More nations are swimming, and more nations are producing elite athletes.
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Swimming is richer because of him, and will be poorer without him.
In a departure from Games past, Phelps’ fifth Olympics offered a glimpse not only of a sporting great relentless in pursuit of success but also of a man buoyed by warm relationships heading purposefully into a post-swimming life.
The three joined hands and stepped up together to the podium.
The comeback endured a huge setback with his second drunken-driving arrest in 2014, which led to Phelps being banned from the world championships past year.
“I didn’t want to feel like I was forced to do something”. I don’t think so boys and girls; this is over. After each of his triumphant Olympic swimming meets, USA Swimming membership soared. And he might even let his firstborn take one into school for show and tell some day. “But Baltimore’s for life for me”. Phelps “lifted” the entire American performance here, Ervin said.
Instead, Phelps swam at the USA nationals in San Antonio. London made him mortal but the immortality is back.
The goal is to pump in almost 1 million gallons of clean water before the synchronized swimming competition takes place Sunday – and even if everything goes right, they will finish barely four hours before it begins. They don’t just give up when things get tough. It’s like watching Usain Bolt, everyone goes bang and realizes its something special. The London 2012 victor Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands finished back in sixth.
At the same time, the numbers also raise fascinating questions about the state of the sport – which, after all, has to carry on for more than the eight days every four years that it gets prime-time television love. “I’ve been able to do everything I’ve ever put my mind to in the sport and after 24 years in the sport, I’m happy with how things finished”.
The happiness has not always been there.
The 400 meter final features a showdown between LaShawn Merritt of the United States, Kirani James of Grenada and Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa.
Phelps began his last Olympic games with gold, putting the world on notice that he had not lost a stroke. The 800 free relay guys said four more years … No.
For him, Phelps’ legacy is shown by the increase in the sport’s U.S. profile.
“Halfway through. we can say Brazil and the Cariocas (Rio citizens) have delivered what they promised”, IOC Olympic Games executive director Christophe Dubi said.
By now you’ve likely seen the photo.
There has been a lot of talk about what Phelps has done for his sport in the past.
The results of personal healing and sobriety are obvious: The Phelps who came to Rio is a far more buoyant person – and swimmer.
“He doesn’t need this, his legacy is going nowhere, which makes this more incredible”, he said.
The Americans will play Brazil’s Agatha and Barbara – the defending world champions – on Tuesday, with the victor advancing to the gold medal match. He thinks like he’s trying to win his first medal. “Michael Jordan had it. that killer instinct”. If Phelps genuinely believes that he has no more of these efforts in him, that he wants to turn his energy and attention now to his family, then he is right to retire. “Why would you poke the tiger?” They give him that space because he is the greatest.
The Phelps of 2016 has been unlike any other Games. Some sites say there’s a few more, some say a bit less.
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Even that statistic seemed to pale against the irrepressible Phelps – and likewise Ryan Murphy’s leadoff backstroke leg, which set a new 100m world record of 51.85. “I’ve never felt an issue”.
