Swimming World Throwback Thursday Video: Michael Phelps in 2000 Sydney Olympics

PHOENIX, Arizona, November 13. WHETHER or not Michael Phelps makes his comeback official, we’ve got lots of great races from a 12-year international career to enjoy.

Today’s Throwback Thursday video goes all the way back to his very first international final, which happened to be the 200 butterfly at the 2000 Olympics. Just 15 years old, the world paid a little bit of attention to him as he sat in his chair behind the blocks waiting to swim in the biggest race of his life.

But by the time the race had finished, he was being pegged as one of the future stars of the sport, a title he would claim the very next year with a world record in the 200 fly.

In the Sydney Olympics, Phelps looked like he was completely out of the medal picture after 100 meters. Sitting in eighth place halfway through the race, Phelps started to put on a super charge, passing three people in the final 50 meters. If there were about 10 more meters to swim, Phelps might have had his first Olympic medal.

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