Sensation? All-mighty? Superman? Whatever you call him, it's Phelps, the man who bagged his third gold on the third day since the Beijing Olympics kicked off last Friday. Of course, no one doubts he will claim more or even all of the golds in the eight events he competes.
People can't help wondering what makes Phelps such a phenom who bosses the swimming world in such a way? Phelps said he himself had no idea to answer that question, however, some of the details he told reporters at a post-match press conference on Wednesday may help people better understand him.
It's modesty.
Whenever asked about the eight-gold pursuit at the Olympics, which would enable him to break Mark Spitz's 36-year-long record -- seven gold medals at one Olympic Games, Phelps never admits he has such an ambition.
"You guys talk about that, and I haven't said anything about breaking any records," he said to the reporters, adding that he was just preparing himself the best he can, to compete the best he can.
"My goals haven't been published. Bob (Bowman, U.S. coach) is the only one that knows it," Phelps added.
It's respect for opponent.
Phelps pays due respects for his competitors in a fact that there is no one who can really compete with him.
"You know, it's Phelps," South Korean Park Taehwan sighed and shrugged after he lost the 200m freestyle title to Phelps. "It's an honor but also a tragedy to compete against Michael."
However, Phelps expressed his much appreciation to the 18-year-old lad as calling him "a great swimmer".
"I knew he was going to finish strong and he always does in races. I saw his time was incredibly strong in the 400m freestyle," Phelps said and only accredited his victory over the South Korean to "good luck".
"In every event people are dropping a lot of time. It is hard to tell the main competition. It is everybody," Phelps said.
It's hate-to-lose spirit.
Referring to his two bronzes (200m fly and 4X100 fly relay) in Athens in 2004, Phelps said he hated to lose and ever since then tried to swim faster.
"Four years ago I wanted to race and I hated to lose, getting third in the 200m freestyle and when I do lose in races like that it motivates me to swim faster," Phelps said.
It's strong nerve and high self-discipline.
Unlike many swimmers, Phelps seldom gets too excited or falters before big games. He said he would remain a cool head and try to focus.
"It wasn't easy putting it behind you, it was an emotional relay. But I had to force myself to put it out of my head," Phelps said, referring to a wild celebration on deck when he and his relay teammates beat Frenchmen with a slim lead of 0.08 second in men's 4X100 fly relay.
"I have so many races, so much to do in every race, I have to keep 100 per cent focused. No matter how good, you have to force it out of your head," he said.
Phelps also told reporters that he would eat a lot of pasta and pizza, a lot of carbs (carbohydrates), and sleep as much as he could to deal with the multiple events.
"Every morning I wake up at 4.30-5.00, and it takes me a while to get up in the morning but it's the Olympics, you have to. I need to recover as much as I can and it is crucial for the coming events."
Phelps faces a busy schedule ahead of him, including finals in the 200m fly and 4X200m free relay Wednesday morning and a 200m individual medley heat in the evening session at the National Aquatics Center, popularly known as the Water Cube.
"There's a lot more swimming left, so I'll just try to keep the ball rolling," Phelps said.
(Xinhua News Agency August 12,2008)