Known for his record haul of Olympic gold medals, swimmer Michael Phelps, lets us know what the Games mean to him.
Q: What do the Olympic Games mean to you?
Phelps: “I’m still excited about the Olympics. It’s the biggest stage to perform on. You get to go out and wear the stars and stripes and the red, white and blue (the American colours), so, yes, to be able to be an Olympian, not many people can say that, and I think that’s something that I will be able to say for the rest of my life.”
Q: What is special about the Olympics?
Phelps: “The experiences that I have had not only being on the national team, but also the Olympic team have changed my life. I’m looking forward to saying this even if it makes me feel really old. Its nuts! It’s going to be fun, and I’m looking forward to it.”
Q: Are you thinking about the opportunity to surpass Larissa Latynina’s record of 18 golds?
Phelps: “I’ve always tried really to not get caught up in that kind of thing. I don’t let it affect anything. I have my idea of what I think it’ll take to win all the events. I want to be the first Michael Phelps.”
Q: What are your expectations for London 2012, then?
Phelps: “The goals I have, and that’s the only thing I have in my head. I can ask you guys what your expectations are for me. I’m sure I will read about it. The goals that I have are something that are exciting for me and something to make me motivated.”
Q: How do you feel going into the Games?
Phelps: “I feel more confident, my strokes actually feel like my strokes in the water. I am able to visualise my races and prepare myself for what could happen, what I want to happen, what I don’t want to happen, just so I’m prepared for everything.”
Q: How have you been passing the time between training sessions?
Phelps: “I started watching ‘The Wire’ on DVD and am catching up on ‘Breaking Bad’. A lot of my time is pretty much sitting around and watching movies.”
Q: Why did you not attend the opening ceremony on Friday?
Phelps: “One of things that is very tough for swimmers that swim in the first couple of days is that we never go to opening ceremonies, just because you are standing for so many hours. Being on your feet for five or six hours, takes a lot out of you. It does take days to recover after that. So that is one of the downfalls swimmers have about competing early in the Olympics.
Q: Is there an up-side to being a swimmer at the Olympics?
Phelps: “Of course. I kind of like going first. We do end up watching most of it on TV, until we end up falling asleep!”
Q: London 2012 will be your fourth games. How do you feel about that?
Phelps: “It’s kind of emotional. I think back over the last 20 years what has happened over my career it’s been a lot of great memories – that’s one thing that I’m looking forward to this week is having a lot of great memories.”
Q: When you look back, what are the highlights?
Phelps: “I think a lot of things I’ve done through my career haven’t really sunk in yet. I guess the more I move through my life some of those moments will sink in even more. I have a job to finish here that’s why I’m here, that’s why I’m setting out on this journey, and hopefully it’s a good one.”