PopSugar

USA Swimming Suspends Michael Phelps For 3 Months

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 10:00:00 -0800

In case you missed it, a photo of Michael Phelps was published in a British tabloid showing the eight-time Olympic gold medalist smoking marijuana from a bong. Although many of his teammates are supporting him, USA Swimming is not. It's suspending him from competition for three months and the financial support that comes with it. By making an example of him, USA Swimming is sending a strong message to other swimmers and millions of fans that drugs are not appropriate for anyone, especially athletes.

This isn't the only bad news. Right before the 23-year-old Sportsman of the Year found this out, Kellogg decided to drop its sponsorship in response to the photo. They stated, "Michael's most recent behavior is not consistent with the image of Kellogg. His contract expires at the end of February and we have made a decision not to extend his contract." Phelps's other sponsors, including Speedo, Omega watch, and Visa, are sticking by him.

Although Michael apologized for his actions, saying that he feels awful that he let anyone down, he's accepted the outcome and is committed to work hard so he can earn back everyone's trust. Do you think this punishment is fair or too harsh?

Source

Swim Like Michael Phelps, or at Least Try

FitSugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 05:30:00 -0700

Michael Phelps is one of the fastest swimmers in the world and he's got his eye on eight gold medals in the 2008 Olympics. A lot of folks joke that he's got gills; I'm not sure about that but one thing that he definitely does have is a good training program.

His coach Bob Bowman, head coach for the unstoppable University of Michigan swim team, recently gave some tips on what Michael does to perform his best. For tips that you may want to try adding to your swimming routine next time you take a dip, just read more. Coach Bowman's tips are:

Extend your stroke
"If you watch Michael Phelps swim, you'll see that his power comes not from fast strokes, but from long ones. The average freestyle swimmer takes 12 to 16 strokes to cover 25 yards. Michael requires just six to eight. Follow his lead by trying to trim one stroke per pool length the next time you jump into the water. Consciously extend your arms. It will feel awkward at first, like you're exaggerating each stroke, but once you start hitting those longer strokes at your previous short-stroke speed, you'll be faster, stronger, and fitter."

Armor-plate your core
"In order to slice through water with deftness and speed, you have to be strong in multiple planes of motion. I have Michael do medicine-ball exercises to achieve that end. My favorite is called the diagonal woodchopper. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold a medicine ball over your right shoulder. Chop down and across your body until the ball touches the ground outside your left foot. Return to the starting position. Do three sets of 10 reps on each side. Next, lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Holding the ball directly above your head, suck in your navel and lower the ball behind you as far as you can without lifting your back or bending your arms. Do three sets of 15 reps."

Source

Michael Phelps Dives Back In

FitSugar — Thu, 14 May 2009 03:30:00 -0700

After the infamous "marijuana pipe" photo mysteriously surfaced, Michael Phelps was suspended from competition for three months by USA Swimming. But Phelps returns to racing this weekend - his first competition since Beijing - at the USA Swimming Grand Prix in Charlotte, NC.

Riding his post-Olympic fame has been a little rocky to say the least, and the gold medal winner has had to learn how to navigate in "real life." His swimming career was superbly choreographed, but much of his youth was spent in the pool leaving him little time to develop other interests. His coach, Bob Bowman, is now teaching him a little self preservation as well as how to perfect his strokes. Bowman told the New York Times, “Michael wants to know people and open up to them a little bit, but it just doesn’t work. You just have to approach everybody with skepticism, which I think is sad." Fame does have a price it seems.

To see what kind of "grass" Phelps is into now, just read more.

Phelps has been surrounding himself with the green grass of golf links. Recently introduced to the game, Michael apparently loves it. His coach loves it for him too, hoping it gives Phelps some social polishing and a chance to schmooze with CEOs. Michael's training regimen still seems pretty tough. His weight training involves pull-ups wearing a 40-pound weighted vest. Wow! I will be rooting for Phelps this weekend, will you?

Source

Golden Boy Phelps Gets Silver

FitSugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:40:11 -0700

After breaking world records left and right, and taking home a record-setting eight gold medals from Beijing, Michael Phelps came in second place.

This is his first loss in four years in an individual race at a major international meet. German swimmer Paul Biederman bested Phelps in the 200-meter freestyle buy 1:22 seconds. Biederman placed sixth in this event in the Olympics last August. Needless to say, Phelps was upset by this upset. He told reporters,

Deep down inside, I can't be mad. I can't be disappointed. Paul swam a great race. He split that 200 free pretty much perfect. I didn't have anything in the last 50. And when he pulled away from me, I kind of got left pretty quick.

The high-tech swimsuit controversy continues, though. To see how, read more.

Earlier in the week FINA, the international governing board of competitive swimming, decided to regulate both the type and amount of fabric swimmers are allowed to wear in competition. The era of high-tech swimsuits ushered in by Speedo's LZR will end next April. Phelps competed wearing his high-tech suit, but the LZR is now considered old school. Swimsuit manufacturers, Arena and Jake, have created suits that contain even more impermeable panels making swimmers even more buoyant and streamline, and therefore faster. Phelps's coach, Bob Bowman, believes the newer suits are giving swimmers an unfair advantage and he wants a "level the playing field," ditching the high-tech suits. When asked if the swimmer or the suit out swam him, Phelps simply replied, "The swimmer."

What do you think?

Michael Phelps Donates $1 Million to Inspire Lil Swimmers

LilSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:00:59 -0700

His mama must be proud! It seems that golden boy Michael Phelps, who struggled with ADHD in his youth and found his focus in the swimming pool, is hoping to pass that passion on to other water babes. The winningest Olympian just established The Michael Phelps Foundation with the hefty bonus his sponsor Speedo awarded him for breaking Mark Spitz's record. A report said:

“I feel it's only appropriate that I continue the momentum that Speedo helped to create by committing my bonus to the establishment of the Michael Phelps Foundation, which I hope will help me inspire others to achieve their dreams, and give back to the sport that has given me so much,” Phelps added in a statement.

The athlete hopes the million dollars will help grow the sport and expose children to swimming.

Olympic Pick-Me-Ups

FitSugar — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:10:00 -0700

After watching the US women's gymnastics team take a few painful tumbles last night, my mood picked up considerably while watching swimming. The US men's 4x100 meter freestyle relay had me on the edge of my seat and tense for just over three minutes - 3:08.24 to be exact - and their win had me dancing in my living room at midnight.

The US relay team beat their French rivals and broke a world's record while winning the gold. The winning team included Michael Phelps as well as Garrett Weber-Gale, Cullen Jones, and Jason Lezak, and the win puts Phelps one medal closer to his goal of taking home eight. The win was infectious and hopefully will inspire the rest of the swim to victory as well.

The Olympic drama spans the spectrum from international rivalry to losing wedding rings mid play. To hear if beach volleyball star Kerri Walsh's found her wedding band in the sand read more.

Competing at the Olympics takes nerves of steel and Kerri proved she has the focus it takes to win, even after watching her wedding ring fly off midmatch. She noticed the band fly off as she blocked a shot at the net, but a true competitor she played on. Misty May-Treanor and Walsh won their first match with relative ease, and the wedding ring was later found by a volunteer with a metal detector.

These are two of my favorite 2008 Olympic moments so far. Tell me yours in the comments section below.

Source

Swim Tip: Stretch Out and Feel Your Core

FitSugar — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:01:30 -0700

If swimming feels like you versus the water, I have a tip for you. Make your body long and stretch yourself out to reduce the amount of drag your body has in the water.

Less drag means less energy expended to get to the edge of the pool. Think about stretching your body towards both ends of the pool as you swim; these opposing energies will keep your core engaged and your torso long. When swimming freestyle, slip your hands into the water and keep reaching, extending your shoulder until your torso twists and your shoulder touches your jaw. We all can't have the Michael Phelps reach, but in the pool imagining that you do can really help your swimming.

Michael Phelps Swimming Game: Awesome or Lame?

GeekSugar — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 06:00:03 -0800

Michael Phelps is everywhere but at the pool these days! Among other many recent endorsements, Olympic phenomenon Michael Phelps will be teaming up with 505 Games to develop a video game based on his swimming career.

The game is still in its development stages so I don't want to be too quick to judge, but if you happen to have played Beijing 2008, then you may recall that the swimming meets were kinda . . . boring. You know I love Michael as much as the next geeky gal, but will his game rise above its paddling predecessors and be awesome, or sink to the bottom and be totally lame? Only time will tell. What's your first reaction?

Source

And the Sportsman of the Year Award Goes To . . .

FitSugar — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:00:00 -0800

And the Sportsman of the Year award goes to . . . Michael Phelps! After winning a record-breaking eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics and breaking seven world records (some were on relay teams) while doing so, this award really comes as no surprise. He seriously deserves it.

Every year Sports Illustrated presents the award to an athlete or an entire team it feels deserving, after a stellar year of athletic performance as well as sportsmanship. Phelps's quest for eight golds and the US relay team upset in the 100m relay moved swimming, an often marginalized sport, to center stage this Summer during the first week of the Olympic games. He astounded America with his high-calorie diet and his deal with McDonald's. Gold medals and big money endorsements aside, we all know Michael has made it as a sports legend because a video game featuring him is currently being developed in France. A swimming video game? This could be the push into the pool that moves swimming from the margins to the mainstream.

To see some memorable shots of Phelps at the Olympics or to revisit his awesome abs, just read more.

Congrats to Michael Phelps! And a little bit of history to contextualize his winning the title Sportsman of the Year. In 1972, the year Marks Spitz won seven gold medals at the games in Munich breaking the worlds record for most medals won during a single Olympics, tennis great Billie Jean King won the award. It just goes to show you how likable and real Phelps remains after winning all those golds!

Interested in reliving a few Olympic moments with Mr. Phelps? Then check out the gallery below.

View 6 Photos ›

Source

Michael Phelps Will Shine Again in Subway's Spotlight

YumSugar — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:51:11 -0700

Subway's ready to test the waters again with spokesperson Michael Phelps: This past Sunday during the US national swimming championships, the sandwichmaker began airing commercial spots starring the Olympic gold medalist. Phelps' year got off to a rocky start when a photo surfaced in February of him smoking marijuana out of a bong.

Within days, USA Swimming had suspended the Olympian from the sport for three months, and Kellogg's decided not to renew its contract with Phelps. Amidst the scandal, the swimming champion was able to hang onto his other major endorsement, Subway - by a thread.

The sandwich chain maintained it was sticking by Phelps, but removed all semblance of Phelps from its website as well as delayed his TV campaign slated for the beginning of the year. The commercials are to reveal that the swimmer - who, at the peak of training, eats as much as 10,000 calories a day - is a fan of Subway's meatball sandwich with jalapeños.

Do you think it's a smart move on Subway's part to hang onto Michael Phelps as a spokesperson?