Get On The Michael Phelps Bandwagon

Column by Kevin Swander

BLOOMINGTON, Indiana, September 19. DURING the past few months, the swimming community has been thrust into the national spotlight thanks to the accolades of one man, Michael Phelps.

Coming off what the sports world considered a disappointing 2004 Olympics, where Phelps only managed to win 6 gold medals (just 6, right?), Phelps geared up for what many people believed was an unattainable feat; 8 gold medals in one Olympics.

Even the great Ian Thorpe had his doubts about Phelps' goal saying in essence, "I don't think it will happen, but if it does, he's the one that will do it."

In Beijing, Phelps was electrifying, breaking 7 world records en route to 8 gold medals. He put forth the greatest Olympic feat of all time, surpassing Mark Spitz for winning the most gold medals at one Olympiad.

Despite his superhuman effort, many people still aren't giving him the credit he deserves. People like Phillip Hersh, a sports writer and correspondent for the Chicago Tribune.

"New pool and suit technology have made swimming's world records meaningless, with 18 record performances through Thursday in the Olympics alone. Only four world records have fallen in track and field all year," Hersh said in a recent article.

"Three of swimming's four strokes—everything but breaststroke—might as well be the same. Otherwise, how could backstroker Matt Grevers say he barely trained in that stroke before winning an Olympic silver medal in the 100? Nearly every good freestyler can swim a good butterfly, and vice-versa," Hersh continued in his article.

Phelps has been subjected to scrutiny from other athletes as well.

"You can't compare track and swimming," French track athlete Marie-Jose Perec said. "In swimming you can recover. You can do five races in a day and get world records in all of them. That's impossible in our sport."

Now it may just be, but I have a hard time sitting idle and not responding to comments like the aforementioned when they involve something that I have dedicated the first half of my life to.

I firmly believe that what Michael Phelps accomplished at the Beijing Olympics has done more for our sport than anything to date. Swimming was on the backburner at the Olympics even through 2000.

In 2004, we made some waves (pun intended) but still took a back seat to track and field when Phelps fell short of the 8-gold hype.

The impact that the 2008 Olympics will have on our sport has yet to trickle down from Phelps, but I assure you it will.

One year from now, if we look at the number of athletes involved in the sport, I guarantee it will be significantly higher than previous years.

Also, what Phelps is doing now in the realm of pop culture media is great for the sport.

After returning from the Olympics, Phelps has appeared on television on numerous occasions: introductions at MTV's Video Music Awards, host of the SNL season opener to name a few. He's also been spotted at the Cleveland Browns/Pittsburgh Steelers football game. He was there watching friend Braylon Edwards, with whom he has a gentleman's bet. Braylon bet Phelps that he would score twice as many touchdowns this season as Phelps won gold. Good luck, Braylon! With two games down in the season, you haven't reached the end zone yet.

Here's what I'm trying to say. Phelps has presented the swimming world with an opportunity to become a popular sport here in the U.S.

We need to strike while the iron is hot and take advantage of the boon Phelps has provided with his superior effort at the Beijing Games.

Our swimming community in the U.S. needs to be getting our names out there, boosting our swim lesson programs, picking up TV stations for coverage of all the top swim meets.

I say we all band together, and if we're not jumping on the Phelps bandwagon, at least get behind it and push!

There is a new frontier of swimming that awaits us, and I say we embrace the change and help to bring swimming to the forefront of U.S. athletics.

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