Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, and Babe Ruth; these are some of the names that come to mind when you think of greatest athletes of all time. When you think of the Olympics, the first name to come to mind is Michael Phelps. He is an athlete of international recognition having competed in five olympics in which he won twenty eight gold medals; something that no other olympian has come close to achieving in history.

One might think that a person who has achieved so much would have success come naturally to him, but that is not the case. I had the honor of meeting Mr. Phelps and hearing him speak at the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards last May. To my surprise he described the struggles he overcame in order to achieve his personal goals and dreams; some even everyday high schoolers face. While watching him on TV, it’s easy to place him on a higher pedestal above everyone else. However, the more he spoke, the more I began to realize that he was more than just the world renowned athlete that everyone saw him as; he is also a caring son, husband, and father.

When Phelps was young, he, like many children, was affected by ADHD; in spite of this he was able to overcome this adversity through the skills he learned from swimming. This gave him the determination and focus that he needed to succeed. Even when everyone else around him thought he wouldn’t amount to much, that never stopped him from reaching his goals.

While even in the midst of his medal winnings, he hit some roadblocks. He was arrested following two separate DUI convictions leading to an eighteen month probation. Not only that, but his personality changed. He was no longer driven in his sport and he was volatile to those close to him which led him to a state of depression. But, with the support of his family, Phelps was able to overcome his trouble with the law and his battle with depression to get back on track to become one of the greatest Olympians in history.

Phelps’ story is one of an underdog who overcame great obstacles to surpass everyone’s expectations and become much more than he himself could ever dream of becoming. But he did not achieve this through luck or talent alone, but through strength and determination. Phelps once said that while his competitors trained six days a week he would train seven. He knew they were all equally talented and figured that by putting in these extra 8 hours every week, he could become even better. This motivation is what allowed him to push past the barriers in his life and be more than the hand that he was dealt. Following his career as a swimmer, Michael Phelps is giving back to his community by inspiring others the same way he was inspired the first time he entered the pool. As his competitive swimming career comes to a close the next chapter of his life is all about giving back to a sport that gave him so much, and inspiring the next generation to do the same. He has started his own non-profit foundation called the Michael Phelps Foundation which aims to help children gain the skills he learned from swimming and to learn about water safety. Their motto is; “Promoting water safety, healthy living and the pursuit of dreams.” Michael Phelps has come a long way from being a kid with no direction and no motivation to someone who is a force to be reckoned with in and out of the pool.

http://michaelphelpsfoundation.org/