Despite Being on Foreign Soil, Retired Swimming Legend Michael Phelps Once Destroyed All Records Proving to Be the True King

Swimming demigod Michael Phelps has asserted his dominance over the world. With a multitude of Olympic victories and a hoard full of accolades, the Baltimore Bullet is a force to be reckoned with. More so, he solidified his status as the true king of swimming back in 2007 at Melbourne’s World Championship Games. While the world had already accepted Phelps as the new champ, the Aussies rallied behind their star swimmer Ian Thorpe.

Back in the day, for the fans of Thorpe, Phelps was still an upstart who had yet to prove himself on the world stage. They completely overlooked the fact that Michael Phelps had already snatched six titles at the 2003 World Championships and also earned eight medals at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

A Clash Between Two Titans

Ian Thorpe was the hero down under. The great swimmer had won 3 gold and 2 silver medals at the 2000 Olympics held in Sydney. Again in the 2004 Athens Olympics, Thorpe added two golds, one silver, and one bronze to his collection. Ian Thorpe and Michael Phelps first crossed paths in the 200m freestyle event at the 2004 Olympics. Dubbed the “Race Of the Century,” it also featured Netherlands’ Pieter van den Hoogenband. Thorpe won the race and proved to his fans that he was still the undoubted king. However, there was a contender slowly rising up the ladder to challenge him.

Michael Phelps created the world record in the Butterfly event, set global standards in all individual medleys, and achieved better times in the 200 freestyle. Despite his indescribable talent, famous Australian coach Don Talbot said, “Thorpe is still No. 1 in my opinion, and Phelps doesn’t outdo him yet”. While that was true then, the fact soon changed after the 2007 World Championships.

Michael Phelps Makes a Splash at the 2007 World Championships

By the championship games ended in Melbourne, Phelps had outdone the Aussie legend. He had won seven gold medals and created five world records. Phelps would surely win the eighth gold in the 400 medley relay had the U.S. team not been disqualified in the prelims. His stellar performance in the 200m freestyle declared to the world that Phelps had managed to topple Thorpe from the top. Before 2007, Thorpe was the undisputed champ at the event. Under coach Bob Bowman’s guidance, Phelps had trained relentlessly and defeated the greatest swimmer ever.

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Additionally, the U.S. legend had also made a world record by clocking 1:43.86 in the 200m free. The previous record holder was Ian Thorpe, who had made it in the 2001 Japan Olympics. Finally, after taking down Thorpe, Phelps felt satisfied. Now that Phelps has retired, the fans are waiting for another contender to rise up to the champion’s level.

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