“It F****D Me Up”- Michael Phelps Couldn’t Watch His Own Race for Three Years Due to Disappointment

Greatness- What is it? How do we define it? What does it take to become great? These and many more questions arise when we hear the word. Various people have a different understanding of the word, but for citing an example of greatness, there is one man whose name everyone unanimously takes with no opposition. And that name is none other than Michael Phelps.

The American swimmer is the most decorated Olympian of all time. He also holds the record for most Olympic wins as an individual. All this, and much more, has contributed to the status of Phelps. But in his path, Michael has faced a fair amount of failure as well. So what is his biggest failure?

Michael Phelps opens up on his biggest failure

Having seen Michael Phelps win everything there possibly was for him to win, people rarely remember his failures. But Phelps remembers what it was like to fail and what even a slight slip-up could end up costing. Talking about the same in an interview, Michael revealed what he thinks is the biggest failure of his professional career.

Talking about the defeat that bothered him most, Phelps mentioned his silver medal finish in the 200m Butterfly at the 2012 London Games. Phelps said, “The 200 fly in 2012 in London. I mean, I didn’t watch that race for two or three years because it just fu**ed me up, to be honest. Because I, I mean, what I did, cost me that race. You know, missing my third turn cost me the race.”

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Phelps added, “Not going to work out when I should’ve, cost me the race. So it was my fault, and I got what I deserved.” Michael recalled the feeling of having lost because of one minor mistake and how it cost him an Olympic gold medal. The elite mentality he carries with himself was visible as Phelps described how not wanting to deal with the feeling of defeat kept him going.

Phelps at the 2016 Olympics

The 2016 Rio Olympics were one of the most significant games in recent times. While no games can be considered better than their predecessor or successors, The Rio Olympics stand out. And they do so because they marked the last time Phelps competed at the biggest competition in the world.

There was a personal agenda at stake for Phelps. He wanted to redeem himself for his loss in the 200m fly at the previous games. And when the time came, Phelps did what he wanted to. He came in, swam his hardest in the event he loves most and took home the gold. Not only did Phelps take back his 200m crown, but he also took home a few records during these games.

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The most significant of all the records was one that previously stood for over 2100 years! Phelps beat Leonidas (164 BC) to take the record for most Olympic gold medal wins as an individual.

Phelps smashed many records throughout his career, but one failed turn bothered him the most. Such is the mentality of the swimmer, aptly deemed the GOAT.