Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time, swimmer or otherwise. No athlete has won more gold medals than his 23. His performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he won eight gold medals, might never be replicated. One of his races at those Games shows why he is one of the best athletes ever – by always being prepared.
Michael Phelps competes with his goggles full of water
In the finals of the 200-meter butterfly, the goggles Phelps was wearing started to fill with water. By the beginning of his third lap (of four), Michael couldn’t seeing anything – the wall, the other swimmers, the black line at the bottom of the pool. Yet, he remained focused and won the race. How did he do it?
Michael Phelps had prepared for this very scenario. In fact, it occurred to him in a race earlier in his career. Plus, he and his coach, Bob Bowman, practiced for adverse situations like this one. In fact, Bowman was known to step on Phelps’ goggles and break them so he had to train without them.
Phelps had prepared and knew how many strokes he would need to take
Phelps knew from extensive practice that he needed a certain number of strokes to reach the wall on every lap – 16 on the first length, 18 on the second, 19 on the third, and 20 or 21 on the final length of the pool. When his goggles started filling with water, he didn’t panic. Instead, he started counting his strokes.
On the third leg, without being able to see the wall, he touched the wall with his hand perfectly after stroke 19, without hitting his shoulder or head. And even though he wasn’t sure where he was in relation to the other racers, Phelps knew that he should make contact with the final wall at stroke 21. And he did, winning the race and setting a world record.
Do you prepare for every possibility?
Michael Phelps overcame a situation that certainly would have held many swimmers back because he had prepared for it. Do you prepare for every possibility in this way? Do you think out all the possible scenarios – even the bad ones – and practice in case one of them happens? This lesson can apply outside of sports too.
In the video above, I offer examples of situations in your work, at school or in sports where you could learn to prepare for possible adverse conditions. If you prepare for the worst, you will be ready no matter what happens. Then you could become a Champion in Sports, Business and Life.
Ready to win in every aspect of your life?
I’ve created a checklist of 12 qualities of the world’s best athletes and coaches that will help you win in your work and life. If you adopt these traits, you will succeed in every aspect of your life, every single day.
Source: No Limits: The Will to Succeed by Michael Phelps with Alan Abrahamson
Recommended Products and Resources
For this book and other books for Champions in Sports, Business and Life, click here to go to Dr. David Geier’s Amazon Influencer store!
Due to a large number of questions I have received over the years asking about products for health, injuries, performance, and other areas of sports, exercise, work and life, I have created an Amazon Influencer page. While this information and these products are not intended to treat any specific injury or illness you have, they are products I use personally, have used or have tried, or I have recommended to others. THE SITE MAY OFFER HEALTH, FITNESS, NUTRITIONAL AND OTHER SUCH INFORMATION, BUT SUCH INFORMATION IS DESIGNED FOR EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THE CONTENT DOES NOT AND IS NOT INTENDED TO CONVEY MEDICAL ADVICE AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE. YOU SHOULD NOT RELY ON THIS INFORMATION AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR, NOR DOES IT REPLACE, PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT. THE SITE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ACTIONS OR INACTION ON A USER’S PART BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT IS PRESENTED ON THE SITE. Please note that as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
