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Appearances can be deceptive. Michael Phelps looks like any other well built Olympian, smiles more broadly than most, and thinks of his mother whenever he wins. What is not evident from that amiable exterior is his steely determination, the fire in his belly, and the win-ability quotient which he possesses in far greater quantity than any human being who has walked this earth.

The ability to keep on winning, race after race and day after day with not a thought of failure is what separates the true champions from the rest of the pack. In the case of Phelps, we knew that he would win a heap of gold medals in the pool at Beijing. We had also heard of his proclamation of claiming all 8 golds that were on offer in the events in which he was to take part. As seasoned sports-watchers, however, we thought that he would slip up somewhere, in one event at least. This writer thought that he would probably get 7 golds and a silver or a bronze.

Even the great Don Bradman had scored a duck in his last innings to fall short of a career average of 100, by a few decimal points! The greatest of all sportsmen - Roger Federer, Sachin Tendulkar and Tiger Woods to name some- have their off days, their sporadic defeats. Nobody could be perfect we thought…How wrong we were! Mr Phelps just knows how to keep winning.

Indeed his performance is not about power alone or agility alone or even about the ability to swim like a fish. Phelps is in many ways the definition of a complete human being with super human powers. The very fact that he thought first of his mother after winning his 14th gold, bears testimony to the fact that he is as normal as any one else, as a person, despite possessing the aforesaid super human qualities. Phelps has redefined human endeavour and he has attained excellence with a precision that was thought to be present only in the realm of technological gadgets.

His own statement that every thing fell into place at the right time may sound simplistic, but in fact is absolutely the reason for this astonishing achievement. His training, his supreme quality as a swimmer, his height, his fitness and his winner’s luck all ensured that nothing could stop him. To top all that, his family was with him at each step during his long arduous training sessions and also during his participation at the Olympics. Legendary figures have many stories associated with them, and in the case of Phelps such tales are just unfolding. It is said that he can swim each lap in a pre-determined timing, nearest to the 10th of a second! In one of the gold medal races at Beijing he was blinded because of water droplets in his goggles and yet managed to win the gold with a world record timing! He knew exactly how many strokes he would need to cover a lap. He himself has stated that he couldn’t see anything at the time, did not know whether he was coming first, second or third in that race, but was sure that he was giving it his best! His astronomical diet which includes all kinds of Americanisms and fattening substances is irrelevant in view of the fact that he swims for 4 hours every day!

Mark Spitz who won 7 golds in Munich in 1972 was not joking when he said that
Michael Phelps is the very greatest athlete to have lived on the planet. The very definition of sporting success has been irrevocably changed by Phelps. He has at least another edition of the Olympic Games to go before he throws away his swimming trunks. At London in 2012 he may well win another 8 gold medals taking his tally to a mindboggling 22 gold medals.

What his success means for young people all over the world, is what really matters. In countries like India which are otherwise non-sporting nations, thousands of youngsters could be inspired to jump into the pool in pursuit of sporting glory. A man as iconical as Phelps can become a symbol of hope and aspiration for youngsters all over the world. The fact that his family values seem to be exemplary too, is the icing on the cake. For young people, Michael Phelps is the new role model to follow, whatever their career choice!