I was patriotic before it became cool. Unfortunately it wasn't for wearing a flag pin like presidential candidates, and it also wasn't because I used to rock out to "Born in the USA" by Bruce Springsteen, despite not having a clue that the lyrics dealt with the hardships of veterans. Instead, I became instilled with pride of my country during the 1996 Olympics held in Atlanta.
Everyone remembers the bomb that startled the games, but what I remember most was sprinter Michael Johnson absolutely dominating the field during the 400 meter and the 200 meter runs. During the Olympics in Atlanta, Johnson became known as "The Man with the Golden Shoes."
Johnson and his gold shoes won two gold medals at those games and shattered his own world record in the 200 meter race, a record which still stands today. He is also the only man to ever win the 400 meter and 200 meter races in the same Olympics. I was never so excited to watch a race in my life.
Flash forward 12 years and a new Michael has taken the Olympics scene by storm. Swimmer Michael Phelps has captured the nation's attention. In the 2004 Olympics in Athens, he attempted to match Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals in one Olympic competition. He fell short, achieving six gold medals and two bronze.
Now in Beijing, Phelps has officially become the most decorated Olympics athlete ever. As we go to print, he has 13 medals, including 11 gold. He's passed the likes of Carl Lewis and fellow swimmer Spitz. He doesn't care about that right now. Instead he wants eight gold medals in one Olympic setting, something that's never been done.
He's become an instant celebrity, and instant water-cooler conversation. When was the last time you discussed a 200 meter butterfly? Furthermore, when was the last time you were excited about the 200 meter butterfly?
Throughout it all, he stays humble.
"To be the most decorated Olympian of all time, it just sounds weird saying it," Phelps said. "I have absolutely nothing to say. I'm speechless."
He's offered no guarantees. He just showed up and dominated. Despite the pressure, he calmly went about his work. Five races and five world records? Just another day at the pool for Michael Phelps.
Even when things don't go as planned, he's still better than the rest of the field. During his record breaking 200 butterfly, Phelps' goggles started to fill up. He had a leak and was losing his vision of the pool. No panic from Phelps, just an adjustment.
"I knew there was nothing I could do," Phelps said. "I could just swim."
So despite being at a disadvantage, Phelps still set a world record and claimed his fourth medal. Phelps was angered by the whole thing. He took his anger out on the pool. Less than an hour later, he came back and swam the fastest lead leg ever on the 800 meter freestyle relay, giving his team a laughably large lead to work with as they cruised to another medal.
As of Wednesday, only 11 countries have more medals than the one man nation of Michael Phelps. His five gold medals are half of the United States' total gold medals.
It's not just the people back in the States watching Phelps, its fellow athletes that attend his events and go crazy when he wins. President Bush met with Phelps after his first gold medal in the 400 meter individual medley. Now Kobe Bryant and LeBron James are swinging by the pool to watch Phelps. All of this in the backdrop of excited fans chanting "USA USA USA." It seems unreal.
Even his teammates are beside themselves when watching Phelps race.
"For him to be doing what he's doing at this moment in time, with the rest of the world coming up the way it is, I think that speaks volumes," said teammate Aaron Peirsol. "And the way he's attacking this meet, too - he's not just winning, he's absolutely destroying every race. It's awesome to watch. It's inspiring to me."
If it's inspiring to his teammates, then it is enthralling to the rest of us. In an Olympics that has been surrounded by controversy due to China's involvement in Darfur and the smog that chokes away the lungs of anyone outside, Michael Phelps is the story that makes all of that seem meaningless, at least for the time being.
Much like Michael Johnson in 1996, Phelps has become the face of these Olympics. His quest for eight medals will forever be a part of Olympics history. When he accomplishes it, the legend of Michael Phelps will only grow.
Phelps will not stop until his gold medal lead is insurmountable. He has three races left to make history. There is nothing that can stop him, not even leaky goggles.
mike schaefer is a junior news-editorial major. reach him at mikeschaefer@dailynebraskan.com
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