Michael Phelps Interview

[londoner62]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,4803-1192265_1,00.html There are 8 pages to this interview.

[Bazza]

Actually it's only 4 pages - for some reason the interview repeats!

I found this particularly interesting:

US team physiologist Genadijus Sokolovas has monitored more than 5,000 swimmers over the past 20 years. Most end a race with a lacticity (the build-up of lactic acid in the blood caused by oxygen starvation in fast-twitch fibres) of between 10 and 15 millimoles per litre of blood. Just one world record-breaker has registered a sub-10 millimole count: after Phelps broke the 200m butterfly world record, his count was 5.6.

Obviously Phelps has a large degree of natural talent in the form of his body not producing as much lactate as others. This will no doubt be of utmost value when trying to race 3 times a day for a week. I'm really behind Phelps, would love to see something very special.

[glen_75]

According to this article he didn't have a full taper for trials. I don't know if it's gamesmanship or what but good god if he didn't. Even so, as gifted as he is ... equalling or surpassing Spitz seems a bit much for anyone in this day and age. If he wins 8 medals and 5-6 gold I would condsider that on par with Mark.

Phelps Taper plan (http://www.nbcolympics.com/swimming/5023667/detail.html)

[glen_75]

Of course in Australia they are even more skeptical

Phelps' ego gets in the way? (http://www.smh.com.au/olympics/articles/2004/08/07/1091732149207.html)

Duncan Armstrong: Why take (away) this very, very precious commodity of a backstroke race, and add (freestyle) to the equation, when quite frankly Peirsol would be easier to beat than Thorpe?

I've looked at it very clinically, without any ego. I think he's made a big mistake, because Thorpie will trash him.

[Bazza]

I like the way you put that Glen, "good god if he didn't"!

As for the ego thing, I can see where he's coming from but I don't think Peirsol would be easier to beat than Thorpe and I don't think Thorpe will 'trash him'.