Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps is one of the most incredible athletes in the field of swimming. He won gold medals over 20 times, and there’s no doubt that he’s known as the most physically gifted athlete. He won his 23rd gold medal as he was retiring. He came all motivated to win his last battle.
What are the secrets behind the success of this overachiever that we can learn from him?
When he was 8 years old, he imagined his future in the world of the Olympics. He had all his life goals in front of him as he created a goal sheet that he formed when he was a child. According to him, it is vital to make a sheet and look at it daily to know that when you wake up, you know what needs to be done.
When Michael Phelps was a teenager, he had a coach named Bob Bowman, who himself was a successful person in the field. Bob suggested him to watch a videotape of swimming when he wakes up and before going to bed. It helped him a lot and pushed him to success.
Visualization further helped him to face any situation that comes his way. He was all prepared to win in any scenario. He always had a plan, no matter what the circumstances were. He was prepared. In 2008, Phelps goggles broke in the middle of a race, and that was a state of panic, but he did not stop and build a record.
Phelps has always imagined himself being the no 1. He dives into the pool sharp at 7:30 and swims for 4 hours every day. No matter, it’s his birthday, Christmas, or any other holiday. His dedication paid him off.
He is a person who does not waste any of his emotions or energy. Michael Phelps always believed that he was his only competition and had to be the better version of himself every day. He said that he is not much into the verbal wars, nor does he reply to the critics verbally; his work speaks for him.
Once another swimmer beat him by 0.05 seconds. Michael Phelps was defeated that day, but he took that as a motivation and saw the tape of the race and noticed where it was that he went wrong. He said that he won’t ever repeat those mistakes and that he’s more prepared this time, before his next race.
Michael Phelps was blessed with one of the best swimmer’s bodies, but he wouldn’t have achieved success without practicing for it every day. He always pushed himself to fulfill his dreams, and with that today, and he reached all his goals.
Michael Phelps is the idol of most swimmers as he is the first athlete who won 8 gold medals back to back in one Olympics. He is the most excellent, and his legacy will last forever.