ONE
22 Olympic medals and counting. Can he win 23, 24, 25…28?
Michael Phelps, 2012 Olympic Gold, 200 IM (courtesy of USpresswire)
TWO
More iconic photos like this one. Nobody poses like a winner quite as Phelps does in swimming – perhaps that’s because he’s had more practice than anybody else in history:
2008 Olympic Games Final, 100 Butterfly: Michael Phelps celebrates winning by .01 (courtesy of USpresswire)
THREE
Rivalries. The Phelps-Lochte rivalry. Where will these guys cross swords? 100 backstroke? 100 butterfly? 200 IM? Or even better yet – the Phelps-le Clos rivalry. Phelps was upset by the young South African Chad le Clos in the 200 fly at his final Olympics, and le Clos has only gotten better in Phelps 18-months absence from the sport. Our guess is that it’s unlikely that Phelps tries for the 200 fly in Rio, but he’ll be itching to tie up a loose end in the 100 fly against the defending World Champion le Clos.
Michael Phelps v Ryan Lochte, US Olympic Trials (courtesy of Tim Binning)
FOUR
Phelps’ schedule is anyone’s guess, endless swim-geek fodder for the swimming masses. Here’s one to set you off: imagine Michael Phelps vs. Yannick Agnel in the 100 free final in Rio. Training partners, behemoths, neither really started as a sprint freestyler…awesome.
FIVE
Bob Bowman’s NBAC Super Team just became Swimming’s official Dream Team! Think about a dual meet with SwimMAC (we’re convinced it’s going to happen), now with Lochte vs. Phelps added into the debate. Choose your team, boys and girls!
SIX
The Phelps Family show courtesy of NBC Sports. Debbie and Michael’s sisters have become their own show. During the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games they got as much prime time TV as a network Hollywood lead. And they’ve put their stardom to good use. Debbie Phelps is one of Baltimore’s biggest fundraisers. No, we imagine about 50% of our readers don’t care much about Phelps’ family, but I’d imagine almost all of them care about the fact that people care enough about Phelps’ family for NBC to feature them. Inception.
Phelps and Family (courtesy of Tim Binning)
SEVEN
More Phelps references in Comedy Central’s’ Workaholics:
EIGHT
For Team USA, the 4×100 Freestyle Relay just got a boost of nitro! Could we go back to 2008?
2008 Olympic Final, 4×100 Free Relay: Michael Phelps celebrates Jason Lezak’s glorious anchor leg (courtesy of USpresswire)
NINE
Phelps’ dog, Herman, gets more media profiles like this one:
TEN
Higher rating and more growth. Phelps equals more kids in the sport. FINA, USA Swimming, all NGBs can run their marketing programs 24/7, 365 days a year. They simply do not net the same results of the greatest ambassador of Olympic swimming. Phelps has made the dream of being a swim star a childhood goal for millions of kids around the world.
The above are 10 of our reasons. What are yours?
I’m so excited to see MP come back! I think it will benefit swimming because who doesn’t love a good comeback story?? And the greatest swimmer of all time coming back?? So exciting! I like how he’s come back to a more laid back schedule. It’s smart, him being a little older and all. I also want to see was he can do in the sprints. Can’t wait to watch him in Mesa next weekend
Swim Mac vs NBAC duel meet, best idea ever
No.6 is just dead wrong. the last thing we need is more air time for Debbie Phelps.
11. Because some crazy swimswam readers are going to wonder if Michael Andrew will beat Michael Phelps at the 2016 US olympic trials.
Welcome back MP.
He has always been my hero – great news for swimming – Welcome back Michael .
All of you have some valid points. The number one goal for any major network is to increase their ratings. Many women do watch the Olympics and this may be a reason NBC chooses to focus a lot of attention on Michael’s mother and her relationship with Michael. However, it is much deeper than this.
NBC is an extremely liberal-biased network. One of the network’s core target audience, whether it be the olympics or the daily news is liberal feminist women. Liberal feminists see stay at home moms as complete failures, which is why covering stories like Phelps’ mom (a divorced mom from a cruel and ignorant husband, and an active principal working at a school) strokes their egos and… Read more »
Number 11
Michael says nope to dope and ugh to drugs.
YES
I like the videos of Herman, MP’s dog. Herman seems like a cool dog. I love dogs and generally prefer them over humans. Bulldogs are the personification of mellow. They usually have very sweet personalities.
GO HERMAN!