My mom put me and my sisters in the water to feel comfortable, to have water safety.
MICHAEL PHELPSMy mom put me and my sisters in the water to feel comfortable, to have water safety.
MICHAEL PHELPSIt’s cool just because I’ve had this dream of changing the sport of swimming and it’s finally happening.
MICHAEL PHELPSI think to be – for me to be an American is – you know, it’s one of the greatest things in the world for – you know, for me just because I’ve been able to grow up with everything. The freedom. You know, in my eyes this is the greatest country in the world.
MICHAEL PHELPSIf you want to be the best, you have to do things that other people aren’t willing to do.
MICHAEL PHELPSI feel most at home in the water. I disappear. That’s where I belong.
MICHAEL PHELPSPeople say to me, ‘You’re so lucky. You get to see the world.’ But I don’t. I go to the hotel and to the pools and back again. That’s it.
MICHAEL PHELPSI’ve never lifted a single weight in my life.
MICHAEL PHELPSI haven’t swam in any of the rivers outside of Baltimore. I try to keep it in the pool.
MICHAEL PHELPSI think goals should never be easy, they should force you to work, even if they are uncomfortable at the time.
MICHAEL PHELPSI’m the same kind of guy before all this happened.
MICHAEL PHELPSEvery sponsor I’ve had has been something that fit my lifestyle, fit my personality.
MICHAEL PHELPSOnce I’m already in my room, I still have to open a door to get into my bed. It’s like a giant box. It’s like the boy in a bubble.
MICHAEL PHELPSI’ve been able to get an excitement back in the water.
MICHAEL PHELPSThis is my 20th year in the sport. I’ve known swimming and that’s it. I don’t want to swim past age 30; if I continue after this Olympics, and come back in 2016, I’ll be 31. I’m looking forward to being able to see the other side of the fence.
MICHAEL PHELPSYou can’t put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get.
MICHAEL PHELPSI know it won’t be eight medals again. If you want to compare me to that, that’s your decision, not mine. I’m going out there to try to accomplish the things that I have in my mind and in my heart.
MICHAEL PHELPS