Ben Michaelson Settles Into New Life as Combat Medic

Feature by Emily Sampl

BOULDER, Colorado, September 30. JUST a few years ago, Ben Michaelson was one of the premier swimmers in the world. His time of 52.76 in the 100m fly ranked him third all-time among Americans, behind only Ian Crocker and Michael Phelps, who edged him at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials. Since those Trials, Michaelson's life has taken a 180-degree turn.

After retiring from swimming in 2005, Michaelson tested the waters of the business world, and found that it wasn't to his liking; he wanted something more out of life.

"After retiring from swimming, that focus you have as an athlete goes away," he said. "I had a job for a while, and it just wasn't for me. I wanted to do something that had that challenge to it; rising up, pushing yourself."

Ben found what he was looking for.

"Right now I'm at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, training to be a combat medic," he said. "You basically learn to be an EMT, and then apply that to combat in the second half of the course. I'll basically be attached to an infantry unit, out treating the sick and wounded."

Ben finished the first half of the course this summer in Missouri, and is now in the second phase, which he will finish up in January.

Getting away from the corporate world wasn't Ben's only inspiration for going into a military career; it sort of runs in the family.

"My younger brother went to West Point and is deploying to Iraq in October, so I guess you could say I'm following in his footsteps," he said.

Training takes up a majority of Ben's time, leaving him virtually no time for swimming. But that hasn't stopped him from keeping an eye on the sport.

"Unfortunately I haven't had much time to swim," he said. "We mostly do running, sit-ups and push-ups here. I always hated running when I was at Club Wolverine, I'm really slow," he laughed. "But it was cool to watch the Olympics this summer and all the positive publicity the sport got."

Ben won't rule out a possible comeback in the future, but on one condition: "When Phelps and Crocker retire, that's when I'll make my comeback!"

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