Phelps eyes life after swimming
Michael Phelps is counting the days to retirement, but the legendary
swimmer, who owns 16 Olympic medals, insists he still has goals, plans
and dreams.
Phelps discussed life after swimming this week at a Boys and Girls of
America club a few miles from downtown Indianapolis, where he is
competing in this weekend's Indy Grand Prix. The meet is part of a USA
Swimming series prior to this year's Olympics in London.
"This is the last year of my career -- the last four months of my
competitive career," Phelps told a throng of about 75 elementary school
children. "My swimming career is coming to an end, but my goals are
still so big." Phelps told the youngsters that his rise to Olympic glory
began in Indianapolis. "I made my first Olympic team here," he noted.
That was in 2000 when, at age 15, Phelps qualified for his first
Olympic team at the Indianapolis Natatorium. He was the youngest member
of the US men's swim team at the Sydney Games. At the 2004 Athens
Olympics, Phelps went on to win six gold and two bronze medals. Four
years later in Beijing he earned an Olympic-record eight gold medals. "I
still wake up in the morning and pinch myself," he said. Although a
middle school teacher once told him he would never be successful, Phelps
said he achieved greatness by being objective-oriented. AFP |
