Today, Michael Phelps joined Soviet gymnast Larissa Latynina as the most decorated Olympian of all-time.
Yet, despite winning a silver medal in the 200 butterfly, Phelps’ performance led to headlines like “Michael Phelps London nightmare continues…” and descriptions of his London performance so far as “disastrous.”
Coming into the Olympics, Phelps’ work ethic was questioned. People everywhere seem disappointed. Apparently anything less than eight gold medals in a single Olympics simply will not be tolerated!
To which I say…
I mean, can we not appreciate what he has done instead of always focusing on what he hasn’t?
The man is one of the great Olympians ever. EVER.
If he wanted to do nothing but eat bonbons and play video games between 2008 and now, so what? We should all still be in complete awe at his performance in ’08.
That he still has the natural talent and work ethic to make it back to the Olympics is incredible. And yet I feel like I’ve all I’ve heard for the last several months is criticism and negativity about him.
It’s stupid.
Michael Phelps has delivered some of the most amazing athletic performances this country has ever seen. We as sports fans should be so appreciative that we barely have time for the negativity. That hasn’t been the case.
Sports are a lot more enjoyable when viewed with a “glass half full” mindset as opposed to a “glass half empty” one. I see the latter of the two more and more these days, and it can make following sports pretty frustrating sometimes.
Okay, rant over.
Congrats on your silver medal Michael Phelps. I’m sure you’re disappointed. But I’m not. You’ve been one hell of a champion representing the Red, White, and Blue, and you still are.
*****
About Jerod Morris
Dude, it’s not stupid. To much is given, much is expected. The guy has an incredible gift and talent. Yet, he is frivolously throwing it away by not adding hard work to the equation. He could/should be winning gold.
“Frivolously throwing it away” according to who? You? And how is he throwing it away? I just saw on Twitter that if Michael Phelps was a country he’d be 55th all-time in medals. Who decided that Phelps was “throwing it away”? Seems to me like he’s done more as an Olympian than any other American…ever! Someone’s level of talent is totally subjective. Yet for some reason we hold Phelps to these ridiculous standards because he is somehow not fulfilling his potential. How much more can he do? Let’s celebrate what he has DONE and marvel at his remarkable accomplishments rather than constantly trying to pick him apart.
other people have worked for 4 years and connot even qualify, sure he might have more to give, but maybe he doesnt, Only he and God really know, i agree with Jerod, since no one else has done what he has, Lets congratulate him, i am sure he is his worst critic. We don’t need to be prognosticating that his is frivolously throwing anything away. there are probably 10,000 people in he world that would welcome his silver medal and would like to have 1/2 his record
Just MHO
Amen.
bravo. I never cared for swimming until Phelps showed up on the scene. I know it’s the same for many others. This guy is a swimming god.
As soon as somebody wins 20 medals of any color he can be questioned,NOT. He made 3 Olympic teams in one of the most competitive sports on earth and had multiple medals at all of them.to the critics stfu.
Four Olympic teams. He swam in Sydney in 2000 as a 15-year-old. He didn’t medal, but he finished 5th in the 200 butterfly.
I still am impressed with Michael Phelps. What he has done in the 2012 Olympics just adds to his lustre. How many of his competitors from 4 years ago are still winnning? Congratulations to Michael. He is a tremendous athlete and a great person. e.m.
Congrats to Phelps, you make us so proud. Just being there in the Olympics again is an achievement all by itself.
Absolutely agree with you that no one who was a winner four years ago is still as good as he is now. It is proved when he contributed to Gold medal 4X200m free for Ameican team. He is an Olympic hero.
I agree with the article. People are always so eager to critcise. I’m sure he’s been working out and putting in more hours than 99.99% of his critics.
He’s the best that has ever been in his sport. How much better than “best” can you be, or need to be? All gold? Come on, this guy is phenomenal! Come on, give Phelps the credit that is due to him. Congrats Michael!
this is so true
As a Canadian of course I would love our swimmers to win but it’s impossible not to get caught up in Phelps’ badassery. It was the same garbage when he got “caught” smoking a joint after he ate the ’08 games. I wouldn’t have apologized, I would have told everyone to eat a burlap sack of rusty medical tools. Eight gold medals and “you’re celebrating wrong.” Half the people saying he’s failed would take twenty minutes and water wings to paddle their bulk across an Olympic pool.