NOW WE KNOW WHY MICHAEL PHELPS ATE 10,000 cal per DAY

[La Gringa]

AMEN. I've been around elite athletes as well. Many of them are so focused on their sport, that when the pressure relaxes a bit, they tend to go hog wild on all of the things that they never got a chance to do.

I'm sure my late teens and 20s wouldn't stand up to nearly the scrutiny that his has...

The dedication and hard work it takes to become an elite athlete is something that 99.9999999% of the kids that age DO NOT HAVE. Mine don't. If a 12-year old is aspiring to this - they are already way ahead of the game.

When I was training hardest in the summer, here's a typical day:

6 AM - 7 AM: Optional practice that if you didn't attend - you were bad-mouthed and chided by everyone who did. "Optional" is a misnomer. Oh and the water is FREEZING...!!!

Breakfast

8 AM - 11 AM: Morning workout. No breaks. Water warming up by the time practice ends. Three hours in a cold pool is a long time.

Lunch

1 PM - 2 PM: Films and lectures. Frame by frame films of what your arms and hands should be doing, what your legs and feet should be doing, how do to your turns, starts, relay touches...

2 PM - 4 PM: Back into the pool before you forget any of what you just saw... Water is now a manageable temperature but now you're frying in the sun because you're in the water the whole time.

Break

5 PM - 6 PM: Starts and turns practice.

I was ten years old when I started this training. I was the youngest by probably three years. During the rest of the year I trained in an indoor pool. I got up and worked out before school. Went to school all day. Got out of school and of course, off to practice for 2 1/2 hours (longer and later as you get older). Grab dinner on the way home from somewhere. Do homework and maybe get to sit around for an hour and do NOTHING... then to bed and believe me - you are exhausted!!!!

Weekends we traveled to swim meets most often by car which meant either leaving school early on Friday or driving late into the night. Spend two long days (assuming you make it to the finals ) poolside and then home.

YES - I'm slightly passionate about what it takes for someone to get to the top of their game. And you know what? I didn't stick with it. I was at the top for my age at that time but I wanted more out of my life.

Michael Phelps didn't give up. THAT is determination. THAT is dedication. And THAT, more than anything is pure, unadulterated GUTS..!!!

In my "humble" opinion...

[La Gringa]

I know the kid has a learning disability and all. What an f'n moron though. I am sorry.

Smoking weed, whatever. I personally have never, but to me it's not like he's tooting meth or slamming ******.

Besides that, you are an olympic athlete and your hitting the bong in front of a camera. That just shows how much of an idiot he is.

You should know better not to put yourself in that situation. Behind closed doors, okay, i am not going to judge. Making yourself a spectacle when you stand to lose millions....dumb.

Lemme tell ya something... first of all you don't know when that photo was taken.. it looks to me like it was taken with a cell phone.... he most likely WAS behind closed doors with someone he thought he could trust....

wonder how much $$$$ his friend got for that photo???

[La Gringa]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand another thing.....

do you think he thought about the scrutiny he would come under while he sat around and did nothing during his training for the Olympics???

it takes unbelieveable focus to get where he got.... it's all about doing your best and winning if you can.... pushing yourself.... no one is thinking about what happens after that...

[Big Jay]

Lemme tell ya something... first of all you don't know when that photo was taken.. it looks to me like it was taken with a cell phone.... he most likely WAS behind closed doors with someone he thought he could trust....

wonder how much $$$$ his friend got for that photo???

Point being: Why was he smoking weed in front of ANYONE?

Similar to: Why would an olympic powerlifter inject steroids in front of someone?

He's a dumb kid and this further proves it.

[Bird Dog]

Point being: Why was he smoking weed in front of ANYONE?

Similar to: Why would an olympic powerlifter inject steroids in front of someone?

He's a dumb kid and this further proves it.

That's totally different. No one gets high alone

[Bodie]

$100 bucks says it was a camera phone picture he did not know was being taken. One of his friends sold his ass out to whatever magazine or website started this. It doesn't take anything away form his accomplishments, he didn't ask to be a role model be asked to be a swimmer.

[La Gringa]

Point being: Why was he smoking weed in front of ANYONE?

Similar to: Why would an olympic powerlifter inject steroids in front of someone?

He's a dumb kid and this further proves it.

When you train for something like that... you live in a bubble... he won... he went to the top... it's time to escape the bubble and bask in the glory of your efforts and how they've paid off.... have some fun...!!! not everyone is going to handle that right....

I'm not saying he didn't make a mistake... my god, he's a KID... ALL kids are dumb - that's part of being a kid...

I simply CANNOT negate his heroism or put him down because he's a human being... !!!!

[La Gringa]

That's totally different. No one gets high alone

LOL.... that'd be more of a concern than anything...!!!!

[La Gringa]

$100 bucks says it was a camera phone picture he did not know was being taken. One of his friends sold his ass out to whatever magazine or website started this. It doesn't take anything away form his accomplishments, he didn't ask to be a role model be asked to be a swimmer.

Exaaaaactly....!!!! Thank you!!

[GALAZIO]

Can the dude swim? The best ever!

Brightest dude to tie yourself/business to? Huummm....

FROM 2004:

(AP) Olympic gold medalist swimmer Michael Phelps was sentenced to 18 months probation Wednesday after pleading guilty to drunken driving.

Wicomico County District Court Judge Lloyd O. Whitehead accepted an agreement between Phelps' attorneys and prosecutors and granted Phelps probation before judgment. The sentence means Phelps' record will be expunged if he complies with the terms of probation.

"I recognize the seriousness of this mistake. I've learned from this mistake and will continue learning from this mistake for the rest of my life," Phelps told the judge as more than 100 spectators packed the courtroom, mostly to see the famed Olympic champion.

Seems like this week is the SECOND time he has used that excuse...