In the end it is a record that will not be passed in our lifetimes. It is the kind of thing we will be telling our children about, and I am very thankful that my boy was able to watch this year (and some in 2008 at the age of three). Michael Phelps took his last Olympic swim today (granted he may decide at some point to come back like his hero Michael Jordan did), and we are left o marvel at all of things this guy was able to accomplish in the pool. In the end his Olympic resume looks like this, 18 gold medals, two silver, and two bronze for a total of 22 Olympics medal making him the most decorated Olympian of all time.
Along the way Phelps set 12 World records in Olympic competition, and 39 times he bested the World Record mark during his swimming career. Sure, nine of his medals came as a member of a relay team, but even minus those nine he would still be fourth on the all time list, and by far the most decorated American. 18 Gold medals, 2 silver, and two Bronze, what a collection.
Of course along the way Phelps as had a few bumps in the road, as most young men tend to have. There was a DUI arrest, and a picture of him smoking from a water pipe. However, his dominance in the pool more than made up for any of her personal shortcomings. Sure, we would like to hold these guys up to a higher standard, but a guy with 18 gold medals is entitled to a mistake or two along the way.
Without a doubt the dominance of Phelps as helped make swimming a premier Olympic event, and the popularity of the sport will likely feed future generations of American Swimmers. Already his involvement with theUniversityofMichiganhas spurred several Wolverine swimmers to make the 2012 American Olympic team.
What I do for sure is there is some kid out there that watched either this performance in London or the incredible eight Gold Medal performance in Beijing four years ago, and he is gonna be inspired by Phelps, and one day soon we will see that kid (be it male or female) swimming for Team USA in the Olympic Games.
On a local note, native Michigander Allison Schmitt finished up her second Olympics with five medals (three Gold, 1 Silver, and 1 Bronze). To go along with the Bronze she earned inBeijingshe has six career medals.
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