Will the real Micheal Phelps please stand up!!

Please define a "Michael Phelps wanna-be."


Edited by newleaf 2008-08-18 7:28 PM

Well I did notice a couple of people attempting fly at the pool, myself included.

Ha! I've noticed this, too. At least three people in the last week, and usually it's just one every few weeks. It's pretty clear that none of them will be challenging Phelps anytime soon.

<--- quietly judges people's fly.

Sure, there have been a few new people at the pool--will they all stay--no.  But will some of them find out that they like the sport and get started into it, and maybe into other aspects (triathlon! oh my!) and get healthier and fit...will maybe swimming rise in the eyes of Americans?? I hope so! It's a great sport, great exercise....and I'd love to see the Phelps phenomenon actually elevate swimming, and I think, from the interviews I've seen, that many of the Olympic swimmers hope so! So, just like at the beginning of the year when "newbies" show up at the gym and flood it--some will fade, but a few will pick it up...and who knows what it will breed, a beginner triathlete maybe?? Just my thoughts...

1. Trying to swim fly
2. Swimming with no goggles
3. Only swimming about 15-20 min

Again I don't have anything against them trying the sport out (or getting back into it) and maybe losing a few pounds. I just find it a tad annoying that they are taking up lanes when we all know they are just going to get frustrated when they can't swim a 1min 100 and go home.
Now if they realize that they won't be world class overnight but stick with it just like the rest of us did then good for them!

It's the Phelps Ephect. 

If more people using the pool means my YMCA upgrades to something like what The Bear has, then I say "C'mon in, the water's fine!"

If it means I have to jockey for a lane and deal with people who don't understand the concept of sharing a lane, circle swimming, controlled kicking, etc., then I might take issue with it.

FWIW, I typically only do 20-30min of "work" in the pool, does this make me a Phelps wanna-be? I swam 1000 the other night in just over 16:00. Hope that doesn't make me a loser. I think the 15-20 min criterion should be lowered to 2-5 min.

More like doing 5-6 strokes of fly, creating turbulence so huge it could capsize a boat, then glide to the wall..