An Olympic year arrives in less than 48 hours, however, and by next August, Michael Phelps’ profile could be, well, to borrow one of his stock phrases, “huge.”
As he prepares for 2004, Phelps can look back on a year that has him poised to provide not just the biggest story among more than 10,000 athletes in Athens, Greece, next summer, but also one of the most compelling in the history of the modern Olympics.
The most prolific Olympic feat came in 1972, when American swimmer Mark Spitz won seven gold medals.
Phelps, an 18-year-old from Rodgers Forge and the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, had maybe the best non-Olympic year ever by a male swimmer. In July’s world championships, he posted five world records, one-upping even Spitz.
In six weeks that stretched from late June to mid-August, beginning with an unshaved world record in California and finishing with a fatigued one in College Park, Phelps displayed an uncommon range of ability and competitive ferocity.
Even his rare losses came with a silver lining. Ian Crocker’s upset win in the world championship 100-meter butterfly supplied a year’s worth of motivation.
“I had an awesome time doing it,” Phelps said, “and I’m looking forward to this summer.”
There are 13 individual events in the Olympic program. Phelps has met the U.S. Olympic trials qualifying standard in all but the 50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke, and he’ll register to compete in the other 11.
Only Phelps and coach Bob Bowman know what events he will actually swim in, but indications are that they could aim at an unprecedented five individual gold medals.
“I don’t think we’ll change his approach to training,” Bowman said of Phelps’ arduous regimen, “but there have been changes in his life. There is more interest in him. There are more people spending money to have their name associated with his. He has more responsibility.”
Speedo rewarded his world championship show in Barcelona, Spain, with a renegotiated contract that includes a $1 million bonus should he match Spitz’s record medal haul. The Web site michaelphelps.com should be up and running any day now.
He purchased a tuxedo, rubbed elbows with corporate executives and had an NBC camera crew document his graduation from Towson High, but there were less-trumpeted moments to cherish.
Stevie Hanson, 8, is a third-grader at Pot Springs Elementary and a member of the Spring Lake Piranhas. At a local meet in summer 2002, Phelps autographed his T-shirt. Four months later, Hanson was found to have a brain tumor. His cancer is still being treated, and Phelps has supplied his own brand of therapy.
There were visits to the hospital, cheer baskets of junk food and bags of Olympic memorabilia. Last July, on the Saturday before Phelps headed to the world championships, he escorted Hanson to the starting blocks at a grass-roots summer meet and tried to blend in.
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“No one knew he was coming,” said Betsy Hanson, Stevie’s mother. “The public address announcer pointed out that Michael was in attendance, and all hell broke loose. He spent the day signing autographs, borrowed a suit and swam in the parent-coach relay. His generosity has been remarkable. Stevie says he’s a good guy.”
Stevie was able to take in Phelps’ final competition of the year, a low-key NBAC meet at Loyola College. A crowd of family and friends also included Fred Phelps, who hadn’t spoken to his Michael, his son, since a falling out. When Fred made his way to the pool deck, Michael went to greet him, and the two talked for the first time since last June.
Speedo’s Olympic bonus was the most publicized, but Peter Carlisle, his Octagon agent, negotiated other endorsement deals for Phelps. One is with a Southern California-based mortgage company, and though Argent’s motto is land-based, it fits Phelps’ agenda:
“In 2003, we pulled away from the competition. In 2004, we’ll leave them in the dust.”
<!– ART CREDITAGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
ART CREDIT–> <!– CUTLINE TEXTMichael Phelps set five world records at the July world championships.
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