Liceul Teoretic (Autosaved)

7/29/2019 Liceul Teoretic (Autosaved)

1/24

Liceul Teoretic Mihai Viteazul, Bileti, Dolj

Michael

Phelps


2/24


3/24


4/24

Table of contents


5/24

Introduction

Born on June 30, 1985, in Baltimore, Maryland, Michael Phelps competed in his first

Olympics at the age of 15, as part of the U.S. men's swim team. He went on to win medals at the

Olympic Summer Games in Athens, Beijing and London, accumulating a total of 22 medals18

gold, two silver and two bronzeand setting the record for the most medal wins of any Olympic

athlete. Phelps announced his retirement in 2012.

The youngest of three children, Michael Phelps and his sisters grew up in the neighborhood

of Rodgers Forge. His father, Fred, an all-around athlete, was a state trooper; mother Debbie was a

middle-school principal. When Phelps's parents divorced in 1994, he and his siblings went to live

with their mother, with whom Michael grew very close.

Phelps began swimming when his two older sisters, Whitney (born in 1978) and Hilary

(born in 1980), joined a local swim team. Whitney tried out for the U.S. Olympic team in 1996, at the

age of 15, but injuries derailed her career. At age 7, Phelps was still "a little scared" to put his head

under water, so his instructors allowed him to float around on his back. Not surprisingly, the first

stroke he mastered was the backstroke.


6/24

After he saw swimmers Tom Malchow and Tom Dolan compete at the 1996 Summer Games

in Atlanta, Phelps began to dream of becoming a champion. He launched his swimming career at the

Loyola High School pool. He met his coach, Bob Bowman, when he started training at the North

Baltimore Aquatic Club at the Meadowbrook Aquatic and Fitness Center. The coach immediately

recognized Phelps's talents and fierce sense of competition and began an intense training regime

together. By 1999, Phelps had made the U.S. National B Team.

Bob Bowman described Phelps as "a solitary man" with a "rigid focus" at the pool prior to a

race, but afterwards "a man incredibly invested in the success of the people he cares about". "He'sunbelievably kind-hearted", recounting Phelps's interaction with young children after practices.

At the age of 15, Phelps became the youngest American male swimmer at an Olympic

Games in 68 years. While he didn't win a medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia,

he would soon become a major force in competitive swimming. Phelps also holds the all-time record

for Olympic gold medals (18, double the second highest record holders), Olympic gold medals in

individual events (11) and Olympic medals in individual events for a male (13). In winning eight

gold medalsat the 2008 Beijing Games, Phelps took the record for the most first-place finishes at any

single Olympic Games. Five of those victories were in individual events, trying the single Game

record. In the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Phelps won four golds and two silver medals

making him the most successful athlete of the Games for the third Olympics in a row.


7/24

Phelps is the long course world recordholder in the 100 meter butterfly, 200 meter butterfly

and 400 meter individual medley as well as the former long course world recordholder in the 200

meter freestyle and 200 meter individual medley. He has won a total of 71 medals in major

international long-course competition, 57 gold, 11 silver, and three bronze spanning the Olympics,

the World, and the Pan Pacific Championships. Phelps's international titles and record-breaking

performances have earned him the World Swimmer of the Year Award seven times and American

Swimmer of the Year Award nine times as well as the FINA Swimmer of the year Award in 2012.

His unprecedented Olympic success in 2008 earned Phelps Sports Illustrated magazine's Sportsman

of the Year award.


8/24

After the 2008 Summer Olympics, Phelps started the Michael Phelps Foundation, which

focuses on growing the sport of swimming and promoting healthier lifestyles. He expects to do

further work with his foundation after the 2012 Olympics, which he has said will be his last.


9/24

Chapter I : Timeline

YEAR EVENT

1985 Michael Fred Phelps II was born

1992 Took up swimming

1994 Is diagnosed with ADHD

1995 Held the national record for his age group in swimming

1999 Took part in a national event for the first time (Junior Nationals)

2000 Became the youngest Olympic swimmer ever to represent the United States

2001 Became the youngest (15 yrs 11 months) man ever to set a swimming World Record

(200 m butterfly) at the Trials for the World Aquatics Championships

2001 Won his first international gold at the World Aquatics Championships (200 m

butterfly)

2003 Won the prestigious James E. Sullivan Award

2004 Won his first Olympic Gold (400 m individual medley)

2004 Won 6 Gold and 2 Bronze medals at the Olympics

2005 Has a street named Michael Phelps Street in his honor in his hometown, Baltimore

2007 Set yet another record by becoming the only male swimmer to have set two world

records in two different events on the same day

2008 Won 8 Olympic Golds and broke Mark Spitz' world record for the maximum golds in

a single Olympic Games

2008 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year

2009 Sets the last record of his career - ends with a world record of 39 "world records" (29

individual, 10 relay), the most by any swimmer ever


10/24

2012 Won his 18th gold medal, making him the most decorated Olympian of all time with

22 medals in total; finished with a medal tally of 4 gold and 2 silver medals in his fourth Olympics

2012 Retired from competitive swimming

The man, the legend, Michael Phelps, needs no introduction. Here's a look at the life

of the most decorated Olympian ever and his MANY achievements over the years.


11/24

2.2 The Making of a Legend

Nickname: MP, Baltimore Bullet, Gomer

Place of Birth: Towson, Maryland

Height: 6' 4"

Weight: 194 lbs (88 kg)

Strokes: Backstroke, butterfly, freestyle, individual medley

Michael trains 5 hours a day, 6 days a week, and consumes a massive 12,000 calories/day to sustain

himself.

To keep himself in top shape, he has an ice-cold bath, and sleeps in a special high altitude chamber to

tune his body for the extremely high pressure levels that he is subjected to, while swimming.

His shoe size is 14!

His ankles move so freely that they extend beyond the pointe of a ballet dancer!

As we said earlier Michael was greatly inspired by swimmers Tom Malchow and Tom

Dolan, as they fought it out for top honors at the 1996 Summer Olympics. At age 11, he joined the

North Baltimore Aquatic Club, and his potential was soon discovered by Bob Bowman, who has

mentored him ever since. With unusually long arms and feet, he was most definitely a water baby,

born to swim.

Sydney Olympics - 2000

At the tender age of 15, Phelps became the youngest swimmer to represent the U.S. at

the Millennium Games in Sydney. Although he did not win any medals at the Olympics, he showed

the world glimpses of his brilliance, and by the end of the year, shot up the world rankings to the 7th

position.

US Spring Nationals - 2001


12/24

The following year in the US Spring Nationals held in Austin, Texas, he broke the

World Record for the 200 m butterfly, at age 15 years and 9 months, also becoming the youngest

man ever to set a World Record in swimming.

World Aquatics Championships - 2001

At the 2001 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, he won his first

international gold medal in the 200 m butterfly, clocking a time of 1:54.58, in the process bettering

his own World Record.

Pan Pacific Swimming Championships - 2002

Just ahead of the Championships in August, Phelps set a new world record by clocking

4:11.09 in the 400 m individual medley at the selection meet for the big games. He also took the first

position in the 100 m and 200 m butterfly, and also the 200 m individual medley. At the Pan Pacific

Swimming Championships in Yokohama, Japan, held later that year, Phelps bagged the gold for the

200 m and 400 m individual medley, and won the silver in the 200 m butterfly. He was also part of

the team which won the 4100 m medley relay, and also that took the silver in the 4200 m freestyle

relay.


Heading into the World Aquatics Championships in Barcelona, Spain, the new world

#1 in three separate swimming disciplines lost the gold to fellow countryman Ian Crocker in the 100

m butterfly. Phelps got back to his winning ways by bagging the gold in 200 m butterfly, 200 m

individual medley and the 400 m individual medley, smashing the World Record for the latter two

events (setting a time of 1:56.04 in the 200 m individual medley, and 4:09.09 in the 400 m individual

medley). He also helped his team take the second position in the 4200 m freestyle relay.


13/24

Chapter III

Here's a look at the life of the most decorated Olympian ever and his MANY achievements over the

years.

3.1 History Rewritten

Athens Olympics - 2004

With the eyes of the world now set on this 19-year-old swimming sensation, Phelps

did not disappoint with his impressive showing at the Big Stage. He set the ball rolling with a record

breaking time of 4:08.26 in the 400 m individual medley, and clinched his first (of many to come)

Olympic gold. Records kept tumbling, with Phelps setting the time to beat (3:30.68) in the 4100 m

medley, and winning the gold in the 100 m and 200 m butterfly, 200 m individual medley, and the

4200 m freestyle events. He ended the games with a tally of 6 gold and 2 bronze medals.


After an extremely impressive showing at the Olympics the previous year, Phelps

trained just as hard for the World Aquatics Championships in Montreal, Canada. After a rather

uninspired start to his games, coming in a distant 18th in the 400 m freestyle, he was back in his

element, as he was instrumental in his team taking top honors in the 4100 m freestyle relay. He

went on to strike gold in the 200 m freestyle, 200 m individual medley, 4200 freestyle relay, and the

4100 m medley relay. He lost the gold in the 100 m butterfly to his compatriot and rival Ian

Crocker.


The Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Victoria, Canada, was the venue wherePhelps won his first international medal (and also his last) in the 200 m backstroke. He notched up


14/24

victories in record time in the 200 m butterfly (1:53.80), 200 m individual medley, and 4100 m

freestyle relay, and also won the gold for the 400 m individual medley and the 4200 m freestyle

relay.

World Aquatics Championships 2007

The Championships in Melbourne, Australia, served as a perfect platform for Phelps,

the demigod of water. He struck gold in every event that he participated in, except for the 4100 m

medley relay team, which missed out on the gold, because of a false start. Along the way to the top,

he smashed the world record in 200 m butterfly (1:52.9), 200 m freestyle (1:43.86), 200 m individual

medley (1:54.98), 400 m individual medley (4:06.22), and the 4200 m freestyle relay.

Beijing Olympics - 2008

Cometh the hour cometh the man. The stage was all set for one of the biggest athletes

of all time to show the world his true prowess in the water. Even his greatest fans didn't quite expect

the gold rush that came their way. Having pretty much dominated the world of swimming, it was just

a matter of time before Phelps truly shone at the Olympics. Having already made a habit of crushing

all the records that come his way, he won a record 8 golds (the most by anyone in a single Olympics),

decimating the competition in all the events he participated in, and set World Records in 7 out ofthem. Here's a look what he clocked in each of the events.

To put this achievement in better perspective, you might want to know that Phelps,

with 8 golds against his name, would oust France (with 7 golds) from the top 10 medal table! His feat

seemed so leviathan, that there were rumors that he might have used performance enhancing drugs.

To put to rest any such speculation, Phelps had undergone all the anti-doping tests during the games,

and had come clean. In fact, he had volunteered for a project by the United States Anti-Doping

Agency, which puts the volunteers through tests that are a lot more stringent than the ones

implemented by the World Anti-Doping Agency.


The year following his monumental success in the Olympics, Phelps was back on the

world stage for the World Championships in Rome, Italy. Of the three individual events that he opted

in for, he set new world records in the 100 m (49.82!) and 200 m butterfly (1:51.51), and got the

silver for 200 m freestyle. He was also part of the 4 100 m freestyle relay, 4 200 freestyle relay,and the 4 100 m medley relay teams that struck gold. Such has been his association with world


15/24

records that the relay teams that he was a part of also finished in record times; (6:58.55 - 4 200 m

freestyle and 3:27.28 4 100 m medley relay).


In the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships held in Irvine, USA, Phelps secured 5

golds (100 m butterfly, 200 m butterfly, 4 100 m freestyle relay, 4 200 m freestyle relay and 4

100 m medley relay). Although he got the gold medals in all the events, the performance was just not

good enough for him by his high standards.

World Aquatic Championships - 2011

In the last international swimming event leading up to the Olympics the following

year, Phelps was in, probably what was one of his favorite hunting grounds, China. After getting off

to a bad start to the games (bronze in 4 100 m freestyle relay), he quickly found his footing, and

took the gold in the 100 m butterfly, 200 m butterfly, 4 200 m freestyle, and 4 100 m medley. He

also settled for the second spot in 200 m freestyle and the 200 m individual medley.

3.3 The Final Bow

London Olympics 2012

At age 27, and possibly having little else left to achieve in the sport (having most

conceivable and many other inconceivable records to his name), Michael Fred Phelps hung up his

goggles after becoming the most successful swimmer at the games for the third time running at the

London Olympics 2012. This was also influenced by his 'poor' showing (by Phelps own standards) in

the preceding year. Bowing out in style, he bagged the gold in the 100 m butterfly, with a time of

51.21, in the 200 m individual medley (1:54.27), and also the 4 200 m freestyle relay.


16/24

He also pocketed the silver in the 4 100 m freestyle, and for the first time since the

medals started rolling at the Olympics in Athens, he has had to settle for the second place, in an event

that he had made his own, the 200 m butterfly. Taking center stage for the last time in competitive

swimming, he once again was instrumental in bagging the gold for his country in the 4100 m

medley relay, a perfect parting gift for his dedication to the sport for over 12 years. As he graced the

podium for the last time, he was greeted with a rousing ovation by the crowd at the grand London

Aquatics Center. He was understandably emotional, as he waved goodbye to the crowds, who over

the years have come to worship this incredible sportsman. He was later honored by the international

swimming federation, FINA, for becoming the most decorated Olympian of all time.

To add to his expansive list of records, he now holds the distinction of being the only

player in history to have won a gold in the same event for 3 consecutive Olympics (100 m butterfly).

He has been unbeaten in it since the 2007 World Aquatic Championships.


17/24

Chapter IV : Articles

4.1 Phelps Picks Up Golf Tips and Shares Experiences From Team U.S.A.

By KAREN CROUSE

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Michael Phelps during the Ryder Cup opening ceremony.

MEDINAH, Ill.Of all Michael Phelpss accomplishments the 22 Olympic medals, including 18

golds, and the 29 world recordsone goal eluded him. He never competed in a world championship

or Olympics on American soil.

Its something I would have loved to do, said Phelps, who competed in his first Olympics in

Sydney in 2000, four years after the Summer Games were held in Atlanta.

On Wednesday, Phelps spent a few minutes in the Medinah clubhouse talking with Davis Love III,

the United States Ryder Cup captain, a meeting brokered by Bubba Watson. He also met several of

the American players, including Matt Kuchar, Dustin Johnson (himself a former competitive

swimmer), Zach Johnson and Tiger Woods.


18/24

Phelps shared with Love the thrill of participating in competitions in which the country on the back

of your sweat jacket is what matters and not the name on your racing cap.

These guysdont have the chance to come together as a team much and hear the U -S-A chants,

Phelps said. And the excitement of it being on American soil, with the Europeans having won six of

the last eight Cups, its going to be so cool.

The plan was for Phelps to expand on what he told Love in an address to the United States team

before the opening matches Friday. Phelps, who is taking lessons from Woodss former instructor

Hank Haney watched Woods on the range Wednesday, and said it was instructive.

Some of the things Ive been learning from The Haney Project I could see when I was watching

Tiger, Phelps said Thursday during a promotional event with Omega, one of his sponsors. I may

not hit good golf shots but I can see what Im supposed to be doing.

The pro-am here represented Phelps competitive golfing debut. Hes headed to Scotland this

weekend to play in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championships at St. Andrews, Carnoustie and

Kingsbarns armed with a valuable tip he received from one of his playing partners, Hal Sutton.

Phelps said Sutton told him that when he was walking from tee to green to imagine he was walking

down a hallway and the people lining the gallery ropes on either side are pictures on the wall.

He said to just imagine youre walking by pictures, Phelps said. After he said that, my next shot I

hit really well.

4.2 Out of the Pool, Phelps Finds the Water at Medinah

By KAREN CROUSE


19/24

MEDINAH, Ill.Michael Phelpss wedge shot was a little thin, but it got airborne, giving rise to

abundant applause from the fans in the grandstand behind the Medinah Country Club practice range.

Phelps, the 22-time Olympic swimming medalist, felt like a fish out of water Tuesday when he

swung his clubs alongside golfers who formed a major titleholders row.

Michael Phelps took up golf after the 2008 Olympics, and for two years spent more time on the golf

course than in the swimming pool.

Michael Phelps, the 22-time Olympic swimming medalist, played in Tuesdays celebrity scramble

before Fridays start of the Ryder Cup.

Within three club lengths of Phelps on either side were Lanny Wadkins, Hal Sutton, Ben Crenshaw,

Lee Trevino and Dave Stockton. They have won a combined 12 majors, but their effortless precision

failed to distract peoples attention from the shotsshanked, sculled and a few dead, solid perfect

of Phelps, who was making his celebrity golf debut on the course where the best golfers in Europeand the United States will battle nerves and one another this weekend at the Ryder Cup.

Isaw the first tee walking over here, Phelps said between swings with his driver on the range, and

I was scared out of my mind. I could feel it kind of in my stomach.

Phelpss handicap, he said, is probably above 20, but the stage fright was worth it because of all the

stars in his midst. It was the chance of a lifetime to come out and play with these guys who are the

best of the best, he said.

He took up the game after the 2008 Olympics, and for two years spent more time on the golf course

than in the swimming pool. He put aside his clubs in the 18 months leading to the 2012 London

Games to regain his championship form in the water.


20/24

Id rather swim a 400 I.M. right now, he said, referring to his least favorite event, as he stood

admiring the ball flight of one of Suttons range shots.

Never in 13 years on the international swimming stage did Phelps, 27, feel as nervous as he did

before teeing off in the 10-hole scramble. Not when he appeared in his first Olympic final at 15. Not

before any of his record eight victories at the 2008 Beijing Olympics with a million-dollar bonus

being dangled in front of him like an eight-carat carrot. Not when he won six medals, including four

gold, in his swan song in London.

The worst jitters Phelps ever experienced in swimming were before his first event at the 2004 Athens

Games, the 400-meter individual medley, because I hadnt won a medal yet, he said, and I was a

thousand times more nervous than that today.

He added: I was literally shaking in my shoes. There was a point on the range when I couldnt hold

my hand still to put a ball on the tee.

Phelps is working with Hank Haney, Tiger Woodss former swing coach, as part of a Golf Channel

reality show. On the range, others were eager to offer him instruction. Trevino watched Phelps take a

few swings and advised him on his hand position. Stockton gave him a weight-transfer tip, after

which Phelps striped two balls with his 8-iron.

As Phelps left the practice range, he crossed paths with Justin Timberlake, another celebrity golfer.

Michael! Michael! screamed the fans along the rope line, ignoring Timberlake. Magazine covers,

swimming caps and pairing sheets were thrust in front of Phelps to sign.

Teamed with Wadkins, Sutton and George Lopez, another amateur, Phelps was the first to hit on No.

1. As the hole captain rattled off Phelpss swimming achievements, Lopez jauntily stepped to the tee

as if he were the most decorated Olympian ever.


21/24

Phelps seemed to laugh louder than anyone else at Lopezs antics and said he loosened up a little. His

opening shot, with a 3-wood, was a line drive. On the second hole, a 192-yard par 3, Phelps topped a

6-iron into the water.

People were joking that I should jump in and swim after it, Phelps said.

He could not walk a step without some stranger shouting something about his golf game or his

Olympic feats. As Phelps strolled down fairways ringed with fans as far as his eye could see (Woods-

like galleries), he waved to the crowds as if this were an Olympics victory lap and not the hardest

round of golf he will probably ever play.

The most people Ive played in front of before today was maybe 200, Phelps said, and there were

thousands of people here on every hole. He added, To receive all that support, it was the coolest

thing.

On Monday night, Phelps received the thrill of a lifetime when he was introduced to his idol, Michael

Jordan, who led the Chicago Bulls to six N.B.A. titles. They were brought together by David Feherty,

who interviewed Phelps during a taping of his Golf Channel show, Feherty Live, which will be

shown Wednesday night.

Phelps, who always said his goal was to expand the audience for swimming the way Jordan did for

basketball, looked stunned to be in Jordans company.

I felt like one of those crazy Bieber fans who starts crying when they meet him, Phelps said

Tuesday, referring to Justin Bieber. I was going nuts.

He said he and Jordan talked for a few minutes off-camera, before Jordan had to hurry off to hisformer teammate Scottie Pippens birthday party. He said Jordan told him to text him if he wanted to


22/24

play golf. He said hed come pick me up, Phelps said, his eyes wide with wonder. I was like,

youre the greatest.

Many of the golfers seemed just as thrilled to have Phelps in their presence. Paul Azinger, a former

United States Ryder Cup player and captain and another guest of Feherty, went out of his way to

introduce himself and shake Phelpss hand. Bubba Watson, a member of the American team, has

been texting back and forth with Phelps, trying to coax him into addressing the team before its first

matches Friday. Phelps has been reluctant to commit. He said he was not sure what he would talk

about.

Hes kind of shy for someone whos so accomplished and such an extraordinary athlete, Feherty

said. Hes really just a 27-year-old that seems as in awe as the rest of us are that so much attention is

focused on him.


23/24

Chapter V : Fun facts

Phelps is still very much a lone wolf as he hasn't found a mermaid to keep up with his

rigorous training routine.

Apart from his relentless training, he owes his phenomenal success to a body, which is

quite literally built for swimming. In comparison to other swimmers, he isn't unusually tall, but what

makes all the difference is the fact that unlike most humans who have an arm span proportional to

their height, Phelps' arms extend to about 3 inches more than this height. This, along with broad

shoulders, a small torso and short legs, make him a real force to reckon with.

After his retirement, Phelps who is known for his philanthropy, intends to work closer

with his foundation, Michael Phelps Foundation, which focuses on encouraging swimming amongst

children, and in turn, helps them lead a healthier life. He is also actively involved in various charities,

and is a motivational speaker for children as well.

He co-starred in a documentary about swimming, titled 'Unfiltered'.

He has co-authored his biography, "Michael Phelps: Beneath the Surface", and has

published his autobiography, "No Limits".

After his retirement, Phelps intends to take up golfing.


24/24

He loves to listen to rap and hip-hop music (always listens to it before an event) and

his favorite movie is 'Austin Powers'.

Documents

Liceul Teoretic (Autosaved)