On August 4, Bob Costas, a TV veteran of nine different Olympics, interviewed Michael Phelps right after his historic last race, the 4×100 relay where Phelps won his 18th gold medal. The interview was touching and gave viewers a glimpse at what’s next for Phelps, the greatest Olympic champion of all time.
Bob Costas asked Michael Phelps what it felt like to win one more medal and stand on the podium one last time. “I got so chocked up and emotional. I felt my eyes start to water,” the swimmer replied. Phelps also said that it was an honor to share the moment with his teammates that he has grown close to over the years.
So, what’s next for the for America’s superstar who has captivated an international audience for a dozen years? In the immediate future, Michael Phelps would like to go shark fishing in South Africa. “I want to go all over the place and visit cool places,“ Phelps told Bob Costas. Afterwards, Michael plans on applying his competitive nature to future endeavors. “There are other things I can do. I think I will be able to sort of shift that competitiveness into any thing I put my mind to,” the Olympic champion explained.
Michael Phelps said during his interview with Bob Costas that he has no regrets about his swimming career. He also mentioned that Michael Jordan was a big inspiration during his Olympic swims. “I can look back on my career and hang my suit up and say that I did everything that I wanted to do. That is the only thing that I wanted to be able to say when I retire,” Phelps said emotionally.
Bob Costas ended the interview with Michael Phelps by saying, “It’s been just great to chronicle your career.”
Michael Phelps ends his Olympic career on a high note after twelve thrilling years. He became the most decorated Olympic athlete ever in London. Phelps won four gold and two silver medals at the 2012 Summer Games. His accomplishments are simply mind-boggling and include:
- Greatest Olympic champion of all time
- 51 Olympic swims
- Swam nearly 10,000 meters and 198 lengths of the pool in Olympic races
- Saturday’s relay was his 24th Olympic final
- In addition to his 18 gold medals, Michael Phelps has also won two silver and two bronze medals
For his twelve years of Olympic excellence and incredible moments, America says to Michael Phelps, “Thanks for the memories.”
Michael Phelps is „the greatest Olympian of all time.” Having earned 8 gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Michael Phelps became the recordholder for the most gold medals earned in a single Olympics — previous recordholder, American swimmer, Mark Spitz earned 7 gold medals in Munich in the 1972 Olympics. Michael Phelps holds a grand total of 22 Olympic medals: six gold and two bronze at Athens in 2004, eight gold at Beijing in 2008, and six medals in London. In these Olympics, Michael Phelps become the most decorated Olympian of all time. He surpassed the 18 medals that Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina won over three Olympics, including nine gold medals.
Olympic competition continues on day ten. The NBC prime time highlights on Monday, August 6 include individual event finals in gymnastics (men’s rings and vault, women’s uneven bars), finals in track and field (men’s 400m and 400m hurdles, women’s pole vault), beach volleyball quarterfinals, men’s diving qualifying rounds, and track cycling final. LaShawn Merritt is expected to go for his second straight gold medal in the 400m.
Source: Еxaminer.com
