I think he is the best ever!
He is amazing, right? No one else stood a chance against him when he was in his prime at the Olympics.
No doubt about that. 23 gold medals will never be beat in my opinion.
Yes, definitely. His body is literally built for swimming, his wingspan is insanely long, and his feet are like flippers.
I was shocked when he retired but then came back quickly kind of like Michael Jordon. I do understand the kind of pressures elite athletes like that must have.
Yes, I wonder the reasoning behind it, or the kind of pressures they feel. There is something to be said for quitting while you're ahead, but it's also a shame to leave if you still have so much left to give.
My understanding was he had a lot of anxiety and depression. Glad that he was able to overcome those things and return.
I am sure living that kind of life and being under that scrutiny can have a huge affect on you. He really went through a stage where he was such a superstar. There was even a shark week special on if Michael Phelps could out-swim a shark, haha.
Sorry to hear your going through that. I remember that special though I didn't see it. He is a great example of what we can overcome in life for sure.
Yes, the special was interesting, but he obviously didn't even come close to swimming faster than a shark. That means we are all doomed if being chase by a shark!