Michael Phelps, 8th Gold Medals in a Single Olympic. Most Decorated Athlete of All Times, Struggled With ADHD as A Child
Tonight, August 16, 2008, Michael Phelps accomplished what no other athlete has accomplished ever. Michael took 8 Gold Medals in a single Olympic.
Friday night, August 15, 2008, Phelps earned his 7th Gold Medal in the 100m butterfly final. This win tied him with Mark Spitz’s. It was a dramatic win. At first, even Phelps mother thought he took second. However, Phelps out stretched arms, touched in 50.58 seconds; earning him the Gold. Milorad Cavic, still in mid-stroke at the wall, touched in 50.59 and took Silver. Australia took Bronze, touching in at 51.12. This was the first time in these Olympic Games that Phelps didn’t set a world record.
Tonight, August 16, 2008, the 23 year old’s victory in the medley relay; earned him his 8th Gold Medal. He achieved something no one had ever done before.
Michael Phelps was born in Baltimore Maryland, on June 30, 1985. His height is approximately 6’4”; he weights between 195 and 200 lbs.
Phelps is a fourteen times Gold Medalist swimmer; the most decorated athlete ever. Phelps is the only athlete to win ten or more Olympic Gold Medals. He won 6 Gold Medals and 2 Bronze Medals in the 2004 Summer Olympics. He won 8 Gold Medals in the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics.
Phelps first Olympic was at the Sidney Olympics, eight years ago, when he was 15 years old. He finished 5th, in the 200m butterfly.
Michael Phelps started swimming, partly to overcome ADHD and because he loved the sport. He’s not doing it just for the money.
When Michael was 9 years old, his doctor diagnosed “ADHD”; Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; a disorder that affects more than four million children in the U. S.
Michael’s treatments was medication and behavior modification. His mother realized that tightly scheduling Michael’s time was effective in calming his behavior. By 11 years old, Michael no longer needed medication to help manage his ADHD. His favorite sports, swimming, proved very effective in calming his behavior.
Phelps said, “When you look at the sport of swimming, it’s very regimented. There’s time management built into that component; there’s set things you do sequentially.”
Phelps started the sports swimming to help calm his ADHD. Look what it’s done for him; not only did it play a very successful part in controlling his ADHD; it changed his life completely. Here he stands, 14 Gold Medals; 8 Gold Medals in a single Olympic. He has broken numerous world records. He is regarded the greatest swimmer in history.
Share
Print
Save