I so think that is an overly ambitious prediction! Have they not seen the world rankings? From Bettor.com:
Phelps is scheduled to compete in three Men’s events including the Men’s 200m freestyle, 100m and 200m butterfly. Initially, Phelps will be up against Tae Hwan Park and Ryan Lochte in the Men’s 200m freestyle meet. More importantly, he has an absolute chance of winning the gold medal in this event. Hwan Park is expected to grab silver, while Lochte is deemed to win bronze.
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I think an ambitious accomplishment for Phelps would be if he wins "just" two of those events.
If I was a betting man, and I am not, I would bet Lochte to win all his events since I do not beleive that Lochte has ever "phoned in" any race he has swam but rather comes to his meets prepared, dedicated, and hungry.
Finally, I think that the 2011 FINA World Championships will send a harsh memo to USA Swimming... This is a wake up call and we have work to do... Wait, who else has said that?
12 comments:
Sometimes I wonder if you're doing this Phelps bashing to secretly give him support and motivation since he's talked about how detractors give him motivation :P
This one? Absolutely! :-P
I think Phelps will win all his events and remind other swimmers how a little effort ie 5-6 months of serious training goes a long way if you're immensely talented like he is.
100-free?
No way... He is mortal
Not sure if he's swimming 100 free in Shanghai, but he'd win that too if he wanted to! :)
I think you misread the article: Phelps is swimming the 200 free, and 100 and 200 fly, NOT the 100 free. Bousquet and Targett aren't swimming the 100 free either, and there's a very good chance Cielo won't either, since a ban of any length would prevent him from competing. Also, Phelps is in significantly better shape than last season, where he was second in the world in the 100 free (between Hayden and Adrian).
I did misread it. Thank you dyslexia.
Damn, correction on the way
A fool bets against Michael Phelps. He'll win the 100 fly in a walk; wouldn't be surprised to 50-point low, he'll take the 200 fly fairly handily and I do believe he's got the stones to hold off Park, Lochte, Biederman and Sun Yang in the 200 free. That, though, I think will be the race of the men's side of the meet.
My brother once asked me if I thought Michael could win "enter event here" at an upcoming meet. My response was, "I think that's up to Michael".
Honestly, I stopped questioning anything this man sets his sights on. If Michael wants to win something, he'll win it. If the stress and pressure of training for World Championships is too much after all he's done for the sport, maybe he and Bob are continuing to simply build up for London. Ultimately, while World Championships are cool, long term general public has very little interest in them, and Michael will always be remembered as the greatest Olympian ever.
Maintaining the training it takes to be that over the past 10 years and continuing it on is a lot to ask from someone and as a legacy is concerned, I'd bet that's what they're shooting for.
If I'm wrong, who cares, he already IS the greatest Olympian ever. That is his legacy already. Not too shabby, and anything else from here on is simply gravy.
This is your wake-up call. Go to work. --Gordon Gekko
HAHAHA
"Stop telling lies about me and I will stop telling the truth about you" -- Gordon Gecko
Haha... the bit about Lochte showing up prepared to practice. Umm In his own words pre Beijing he was not always the hardest of workers. Remember phelps once never tools day off in 5 years leading up to Athens. Just because Lochte is only now taking a page from Phelps doesn't make him suddenly more deserving. He has a long way before he has put in the work Phelps has, which is why Phelps will always be remembered as the greatest Olympian in history.
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