Dear Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps’ mark on the sport, after 22 Olympic medals, will have a ripple effect for generations.  It already has a name: The Phelps Effect. Michael hasn’t been shy about his goals in swimming: “change the sport, motivate and inspire people to achieve their dreams.”

If Michael has affected your life, share it here. We’re going to keep this column going. Submit your own Michael Phelps testimonial, no more than 500 words, for possible inclusion in this series, “Dear Michael Phelps.”  I’ll start us off…

Summer, 2007: I rolled over in bed, “Tif,” I said to my wife,  “I miss swimming. I want to be involved again. I think the sport’s changing, and…I don’t think it’ll ever be the same.”

Backstory: In my day, swimming was different, a 3rd tier Olympic sport behind track and field and gymnastics that got passing respect eight days every four years.  Swimming was small, felt small, even at the world-class level.  At times it could be almost embarrassing in social situations. The conversations always went the same way: “Oh wow, you’re a gold medalist? Cool. Swimming, huh? So…did you play b-ball, football, anything else?” Awkward pregnant pause…. “You know, why does someone choose swimming? I mean, you’re just going back and forth, and back and forth. Maybe if you tossed a shark or alligator in it might be more interesting. Now that would be good television.”

Belly laughs all around. I’d smile and fake a chuckle. On to the next topic. You might think I’m kidding, but if I had a nickel for every time that exchange happened…

Summer, 2000, Sydney Olympics:  I’m eight years past my Olympic win in the 200 butterfly, and I’m not in the sport at all. Swimming’s a part-time interest.  Someone else, a non-swimmer, tells me this Aussie, Ian Thorpe, is going to be the next Mark Spitz, and that Gary Hall Jr. will star again for Team USA.  I watch and enjoy, but it’s mild, emotionally detached entertainment…until the 200 butterfly final.

Tom Malchow wins. I’m happy for him. I know how much work he’s put in, how much he’s given up. I feel a kinship with him, a 200 fly-brotherhood.  I also catch the last 30 meters of the second American, this Michael Phelps kid. Whoa, he closes fast. I know he’s young, but until I hear the announcer say he’s only 15, it doesn’t sink in. Suddenly I’m on my feet, yelling at Tif, “That’s incredible! That’s a kid…a baby, swimming like a man!”

Summer, 2004, Athens Olympics: Michael wins eight medals, six of them gold. He’s only 19, siding up to NBC host Bob Costas, saying he wants to change the sport. His performance was stunning, but on camera he came across like a 19-year-old, one with stilted media training.  He can’t equal it again in 2008, I thought, when he’s old enough, mature enough to really get the message across. More than anything else I concluded, any kid who has put this kind of work in will surely flameout in the next few years. Swimming’s too tough to keep this kind of success going.

At the time, I was jaded. I’d been living in Los Angeles for a dozen years, and I knew swimming needed more. Sadly, I didn’t think performance alone could deliver the sport the type of respect it deserved.  No one really cared that Phelps trained miles upon miles.  I felt the sport’s greatest ambassador needed to have some sex-appeal to pull-in a huge audience, one that would stop and maybe, just maybe, become a little educated about what it takes to be a world-class swimmer.

Then I saw this July, 2007 cover story on Men’s Journal:

Michael had grown up. The image was captivating, the image of a swimmer that might attract an audience outside of an Olympic year, and it said all the right things. Michael was in top form and on-track to repeat in Beijing, but, more importantly, the story put into context what that meant, posing the question: Is he really the greatest athlete of all-time?  Sex appeal wasn’t necessary, though Michael was clearly maturing into a handsome, young guy. Bottom-line: Michael was earning global attention with good ol’ fashion hard work and staying power.

At World Championships in Melbourne, Michael went seven for seven in the gold medal hunt, but watching his 200 butterfly was like a religious experience; six to seven dolphin kicks off each wall, a precise and gorgeous stroke. To me, Michael looked like a master artist painting the most beautiful 200 meters I’d ever seen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if1nhtb7PfE

After Worlds, that’s when I rolled over in bed and said to my wife, “I want to be involved again.” Seven months later I was on deck at the Missouri Grand Prix watching Michael, in person. He put down a 1:53 in-season 200 meters butterfly.  I could barely talk, scarcely put into words what I had witnessed other than one feeling. This is real.  Michael is truly great.

I can’t remember the last time I had an awkward conversation with someone who finds out I’m an Olympic swimmer. The tone is completely different now. I’m asked about times, about split-times, about who’s in contention at the next competition. Strangers with no tie to the sport whatsoever understand that since the hi-tech suits have been banned that world records are mind-blowing performances.

The Phelps Effect has already happened. More kids are entering the sport, and more will follow for generations, but Michael has also raised the prestige of swimming for every swimmer that’s ever invested years of emotion, energy and hard work. Personally, I walk a little taller and feel a little prouder.

Dear Michael, I know many people who swim or swam have similar stories, and I know they feel as grateful as I do for your 22 trips to the medal podium.  Thank you…just, thank you.

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Pete
11 years ago

As a former swimmer I stayed around in the sport coaching my local summer league teams, and then it clicked that coaching may be my future. Then came Beijing 2008. Michael mesmerized us all. It really reignited me. So out of the blue I called North Baltimore to intern there [also for my degree]. Mr. Bowman was more than helpful and brought me along. Being there after Beijing and in the lead up to Worlds in 2009, really opened my eyes to the ‘secret of success’…its hard work. Simple. I want to thank Michael for bringing the sport to the ‘commonplace’ of America…the Bar Room Debate, and for Bob Bowman for letting me catch a glimpse of greatness. Without those… Read more »

RNadine
11 years ago

Dear Michael,

I am now 4 years older than you. I started as an age group swimmer when I was 11 and loved it. Swam for Potomac Valley Swimming and I believe went to Zones up at a NBAC pool. I remember a few Olympics from my childhood, and swimmers like Tom Dolan, Gary Hall Jr, Summer Sanders and Janet Evans. My team watched a lot of video and I remember trying to mimic Alexander Popov’s freestyle. Swam for my college, then it was all over. I missed out on watching many swimming events between 2000 and 2008. Then I watched the 08 games, and was beyond amazed and inspired. Ever since my last day in the pool in college,… Read more »

Chris
11 years ago

Michael – You have inspired people in ways you will never understand. My seven year old son who watched you swim last week has just learned how to ride a bike today – without training wheels. His comment afterwards was simple but speaks volumes:

I believe…..just like Michael Phelps.

Thank you for inspiring people who were not even born when you started this trek!

rita
11 years ago

Michael- you have single handedly brought the sport I love new life. I started swimming at the age of 3 and by the age of 10 I wanted to be Janet Evans. At the age of 18 it was clear I was just a slightly above average swimmer. It didn’t matter as I loved the sport, relished the competition, and even welcomed doubles. When I stopped swimming I didn’t return to the pool for years. Something was missing and I didn’t know what. Watching you swim in ’08 made me realize what I was missing and got me back in the water. Watching you in london convinced me to join a local USMS team. You are the definition of this… Read more »

dan simkowitz
11 years ago

Michael Phelps got me to watch Shanghai world champs last summer, at that meet ryan lochte inspired me to get swimming again (25+ yrs)!!, and just as importantly since I went to Omaha to watch this summer it has been Mel and SwimSwam that make it really interesting to keep up with this great sport.

Tall Drink of Water
11 years ago

I grew up in AZ, so of course you learn to swim living there. I was
initially scared of the deep end of the pool, but I outgrew my fear and then later on swam on city summer recreation teams and on a club team for 2 years and all 4 years in high school.My speed was never proporitional to my height and it was kind of tough, because everyone expected me to be faster due to
my exceptional height. After high school I didn’t touch the water for 9 years. I watched with only passing interest the Sydney and Athens Games. Then, in 2007 after a back injury and putting on a lot of weight over the… Read more »

Nelson KU Goldenbear
11 years ago

Thank you Michael for always surprising and shocking the world with your swims. You’ve grown the sport so much with your presence and have elevated the level of competitiveness to such an insane level non-swimmers can’t even comprehend. I must say I was rooting for Lochte these games (who still did an amazing job), but you have cemented your legacy with how you’ve performed.
To the staff at Swimswam.com, you guys have done a truly incredible job with this site. I’ve been a follower of Floswimming when I competed in college (wednesday workouts were my favorite, aslo Garrett thank you for your help when Kutztown University cut the Men’s program), then on to Swimnetwork after college where I discovered… Read more »

Lesley k Sleath
11 years ago

Thanks Mel for that inspiring insight into what the Phelps Effect means. Have you ever thought about writing your autobiography?
I’ve never been a swimmer but have loved sport with a passion since my Grandad fostered my interest in the Olympics since childhood. It was swimming at the Olympics that captivated me most during my childhood probably due to not getting so much coverage at other events. I remember British Swimmers like Wilkie,.Goodhew, & Moorehouse winning Golds for Team GB at successive Olympics, then as aUniversity Student I ,shared accomodation with members of Loughborough University Swim team. I marvelled at their dedication and enthusiasm for training. One student Julie Bradshaw was a long distance swimmer who had swam the… Read more »

About Gold Medal Mel Stewart

Gold Medal Mel Stewart

MEL STEWART Jr., aka Gold Medal Mel, won three Olympic medals at the 1992 Olympic Games. Mel's best event was the 200 butterfly. He is a former World, American, and NCAA Record holder in the 200 butterfly. As a writer/producer and sports columnist, Mel has contributed to Yahoo Sports, Universal Sports, …

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