Phelps aims to Emulate Spitz in Athens
LONDON (Reuters) American Michael Phelps has set his sights on claiming Mark Spitz's 32-year-old mantle2 after announcing his bid to swim eight events at the Athens Olympics, with the possibility of a gold medal in each one.
Spitz's feat of seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Olympics has never been bettered, although East German Kristin Otto came close when she won six at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Expectations that 19-year-old Phelps could be the one to finally better Spitz's mark have soared since he set five world records at last year's world championships in Barcelona3.
Spitz won four individual and three relay gold medals at Munich, all in world record time , but Phelps has entered five individual events in Athens and hopes to swim the three relays.
Phelps qualified for six events in Athens but dropped the 200 meters back-stroke, where he finished second to Aaron Piersol at the U. S. trials, to concentrate on the 200 freestyle, 100 and 200 butterfly and the 200 and 400 individual medleys4.
He also qualified for the 4 x200 freestyle relay but is relying on the discretion5 of the American coaches to contest the other two relays.
Phelps' bid for eight gold medals has already captured the imagination of the biggest names in sport.
"I expect much from Michael Phelps," said International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge6. "Phelps could become the new Mark Spitz. "
Phelps has been promised a $ 1 million bonus7 from one of his sponsors8 if he can win at least seven golds but the shy teen-ager is playing down9 expectations.
"My goal right now is to win a gold medal. I will be happy if I can walk away with a gold for the USA," he said on his personal Web Site.
Despite his phenomenal10success, Phelps' chances of winning all eight golds are slim. He is a strong favorite to win the medley double and the 200 butterfly, events in which he holds the world record, but things get harder after that.
Australia's Ian Thorpe" , who also entertained thoughts of tackling Spitz's record before settling for six events, is favorite to win the 200 freestyle. His world record is almost two seconds better than Phelps' best time for the event.
The Australians are favorites to win the 4 x200 freestyle relay, an event in which they are reigning Olympic and world champions and world record holders.
Phelps also faces challenges from within his own team with compatriot Ian Crocker the favorite to win the 100 butterfly after winning the world title last year then lowering his world record and beating Phelps at the U. S. Olympic trials.
The 100 butterfly looms12 as possibly Phelps' most crucial event as he needs to win the race to be guaranteed a start in the medley relay.
Phelps started swimming at the age of five and joined the North Baltimore Aquatics Club, which has produced gold medallists in the past. His prowess13 in the pool is helped by his height of 1.94 meters and a wingspan of over two meters.
The first real sign of the potential he had came in 2000 when he qualified for Sydney at age 15, becoming the youngest man to represent the U. S. in swimming at an Olympics.
He finished fifth in the 200 butterfly in Sydney but six months later broke the world record in the event, becoming the youngest man to hold a world re-cord.
Later that year, he lowered the record further to win his first world title and has been riding a wave of success ever since.
Thorpe had long been regarded as the man most likely to challenge Spitz after he won three gold medals as a 17-year-old at the last Olympics.
The Australian won six golds at the 2001 world championships and the 2002 Commonwealth Games but gave up on the idea as his fruitless search for the seventh event began to weigh him down14.
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