Phelps Ties Spitz's Olympic Gold Medal Record
Michael Phelps' Accomplishment Proclaimed "Epic"
Aug 16, 2008
On Friday, Michael Phelps tied the Olympic record of Mark Spitz that had stood fast for 36 years. Phelps beat Croatian Milorad Cavic in the 100-meter butterfly by only a hundredth of a second, which won Phelps his seventh gold medal in the 2008 Olympic Games.
Historic Interview
Although reports had indicated that Spitz was angered that he had not been flown to Beijing to comment on Phelps' performance, he was gracious and complementary during a momentous interview that took place on NBC shortly after Phelps' historic win. The interview was mediated by Bob Costas and included both Phelps and Spitz.
From Detroit, Michigan, Spitz proclaimed Phelps' accomplishments to be “epic.” Spitz went on to say to Phelps, “it was epic for the whole world to see how great you really are…We’re so proud of you here Michael, in America, and we’re so proud of you in the way you’ve handled yourself and you represent such an inspiration to youngsters around the world…Congratulations Michael.”
Phelps took the adoration from Spitz gracefully and responded, “Thank you Mark…what Mark did is still amazing. It’s incredible, and it’s a very, very hard thing to accomplish. When Mark won seven, he put his mind to something, and he did everything he could to get there. And it’s the same thing for me. I’ve tried to stay as positive as I could stay rested and recover…So I’m very, very thankful.
The Sport of Swimming Has Evolved
Of course, today’s Olympic sport of swimming is very different than it was in 1972 when Spitz gained his Olympic record. Swimmers wear specialized swimsuits, swim caps, and goggles. When Spitz swam, his long hair and mustache were prevalent and small, traditional swimsuit bottoms were the norm. Yes, no one was able to dethrone Spitz for over three decades.
The Physiology of Phelps
Reports have indicated that Phelps is such a great swimmer due to superior genetic make up geared toward the sport. Phelps is one of the tallest Olympians at 6 feet 4 inches and has a huge arm span of 6 feet 7 inches. His legs are quite short, being those of a man who is only 6 feet tall, yet Phelps' torso is disproportionately long. This allows him to generate a large amount of force from his body’s core shunting great amounts of water behind him. Phelps has size 15 feet that some maintain act as flippers in the water.
Due to this unique physiology, he maintains superior stamina and produces less lactic acid than other athletes produce in his sport. Phelps also weight trains incessantly, and his workout regimen is mind boggling as it is reported he burns approximately 4,000 calories during each training session.
