Michael Phelps - Is he human or metahuman?

Gryffindorian · August 13 2008, 06:54 AM

I've been watching the Beijing Summer Olympic coverage on NBC. This is about the only sporting event I've ever cared to watch on television, and gymnastics and swimming are my two favorite sports.

Michael Phelps is a truly amazing guy. Five. Gold. Olympic Medals. So far. In five swimming competitions.

That's not counting the gold medals he had already won in the Athens Olympics of 2004.

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/bei...+Phelps/221565

You know something? I have more respect for these Olympic swimmers and athletes than I do for these overpaid "pro" athletes (football, baseball, basketball) we have in the U.S., some of whom can't even form a coherent sentence when they're interviewed by the media.

Apparently, we don't have a Batman in real life, but Phelps is the closest thing we have and is the epitome of athletic prowess. You need only look at his performance in the Olympics, resulting from the rigorous training, physical and mental conditioning he has to go through every day. I mean, it's one thing to be physically fit or athletic. It's one thing to be a professional athlete. But to be an Olympic-level athlete--and one who excels at what he does and continues to break world records--it's almost superhuman.

And the games ain't over yet.

Venardhi · August 13 2008, 07:19 AM

I swam for almost a decade growing up, the Olympic swimming is the one thing I really follow at the games. The man is built for swimming, simply put. Swimming ability is something that, beyond the obvious need for constant training and perfect form, is really a matter of physiology.

tomalak301 · August 13 2008, 07:41 AM

The guy is insane. What a race and what a fun swimmer to watch.

RJDiogenes · August 13 2008, 10:45 AM

I can run up the stairs without getting out of breath. If there's not too many.

Unfortunately, I also have to commit the strenuous act of moving this thread to the Sports Forum.

* Gasp. Wheeze. *

SalvorHardin · August 13 2008, 10:49 AM

Is he human, metahuman or up to his ears with the most current, top substances the anti-doping agencies are unable to detect yet ?

Yes,I don't have much faith in the Olympics or their champions anymore...

nevermore · August 13 2008, 03:49 PM

^He volunteered to take part in extra doping tests, as well as a new program that maps his body chemistry continuously for any signs of deviations. I think he's clean. He's just a ridiculously hard trainer who happened to be born with the right body, including a literally freakish aerobic capacity. The latter is why he can recover as quickly as he can and why he can excel in an unprecedented program.

TheArsenal · August 13 2008, 06:47 PM

flamingliberal wrote:

He's just a ridiculously hard trainer who happened to be born with the right body, including a literally freakish aerobic capacity. The latter is why he can recover as quickly as he can and why he can excel in an unprecedented program.

His build is freakish. But freakish in the way Frankenstein would have been if designed by swim coaches. He's double jointed which gives him that crazy power in his turns, has the wing span of a plane, and flippers with unprecedented amount of flexibility instead of feet.

Almost literally built for the sport.

Gryffindorian · August 13 2008, 07:41 PM

Ohmigosh, I completely forgot there was a Sports Forum on the BBS. No wonder I didn't see any Olympic discussions in MISC.

Did he just win another gold medal that I'm not aware of? The last event NBC showed Phelps was the Men's relay.

I fell asleep around midnight and couldn't stay up to watch the women's gymnastic team finals last night. Thanks a lot, NBC.

tomalak301 · August 13 2008, 07:43 PM

Drone36929 wrote:

Ohmigosh, I completely forgot there was a Sports Forum on the BBS. No wonder I didn't see any Olympic discussions in MISC.

Did he just win another gold medal that I'm not aware of? The last event NBC showed Phelps was the Men's relay.

I fell asleep around midnight and couldn't stay up to watch the women's gymnastic team finals last night. Thanks a lot, NBC.

So far he has 5. I think tonight is Phelps Free in Prime Time (Mens All Around Gymnastics takes center stage) but the next three nights will be interesting.

Mr. Adventure · August 16 2008, 07:35 PM

TheArsenal wrote:

flamingliberal wrote:

He's just a ridiculously hard trainer who happened to be born with the right body, including a literally freakish aerobic capacity. The latter is why he can recover as quickly as he can and why he can excel in an unprecedented program.

His build is freakish. But freakish in the way Frankenstein would have been if designed by swim coaches. He's double jointed which gives him that crazy power in his turns, has the wing span of a plane, and flippers with unprecedented amount of flexibility instead of feet.

Almost literally built for the sport.

And the gills. Don't forget the gills.

Nobody · August 16 2008, 07:44 PM

I get the feeling he's actually God -- and he's toying with the rest of the field until the last leg and wills himself to win. If someone beats him, that is when he will decide to bring about judgment day.

At least that's what NBC says.

-nobody

RoJoHen · August 16 2008, 08:12 PM

TheArsenal wrote:

flamingliberal wrote:

He's just a ridiculously hard trainer who happened to be born with the right body, including a literally freakish aerobic capacity. The latter is why he can recover as quickly as he can and why he can excel in an unprecedented program.

His build is freakish. But freakish in the way Frankenstein would have been if designed by swim coaches. He's double jointed which gives him that crazy power in his turns, has the wing span of a plane, and flippers with unprecedented amount of flexibility instead of feet.

Almost literally built for the sport.

Exactly. It's a good thing he discovered swimming. It would suck if he decided to play football or something.

He moves like a fish. It's crazy to watch.

J. Allen · August 16 2008, 08:26 PM

Did you watch this morning? I caught the Men's 100m butterfly. Phelps beat Cavic by one-one hundredths of a second. It was insane!

J.

KeepOnTrekking · August 16 2008, 08:42 PM

Insane...but exciting!! As well as gold medal #7!!
When he was younger, he kinda looked like the Golden Age Prince Namor with the triangular face and his pointed ears bobbed. Maybe that would explain his superhuman performance in the Olympics.

J. Allen · August 16 2008, 08:49 PM

KeepOnTrekking wrote:

Insane...but exciting!! As well as gold medal #7!!
When he was younger, he kinda looked like the Golden Age Prince Namor with the triangular face and his pointed ears bobbed. Maybe that would explain his superhuman performance in the Olympics.

Oh, I agree. I was exhausted, it was early in the morning and I should have been sleeping, but when Phelps touched the wall and they showed him as the winner, I jumped off of the couch and started cheering. The downstairs neighbors were not amused.

J.

August 13 2008, 06:54 AM	#1
Gryffindorian Vice Admiral Location: Hogwarts	Michael Phelps - Is he human or metahuman? I've been watching the Beijing Summer Olympic coverage on NBC. This is about the only sporting event I've ever cared to watch on television, and gymnastics and swimming are my two favorite sports. Michael Phelps is a truly amazing guy. Five. Gold. Olympic Medals. So far. In five swimming competitions. That's not counting the gold medals he had already won in the Athens Olympics of 2004. http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/bei...+Phelps/221565 You know something? I have more respect for these Olympic swimmers and athletes than I do for these overpaid "pro" athletes (football, baseball, basketball) we have in the U.S., some of whom can't even form a coherent sentence when they're interviewed by the media. Apparently, we don't have a Batman in real life, but Phelps is the closest thing we have and is the epitome of athletic prowess. You need only look at his performance in the Olympics, resulting from the rigorous training, physical and mental conditioning he has to go through every day. I mean, it's one thing to be physically fit or athletic. It's one thing to be a professional athlete. But to be an Olympic-level athlete--and one who excels at what he does and continues to break world records--it's almost superhuman. And the games ain't over yet. __________________ "I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve." --Bilbo Baggins, LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring

August 13 2008, 07:19 AM	#2
Venardhi Vice Admiral Location: Constant transit	Re: Michael Phelps - Is he human or metahuman? I swam for almost a decade growing up, the Olympic swimming is the one thing I really follow at the games. The man is built for swimming, simply put. Swimming ability is something that, beyond the obvious need for constant training and perfect form, is really a matter of physiology. __________________ "There is no reason why good cannot triumph as often as evil. The triumph of anything is a matter of organization. If there are such things as angels, I hope that they are organized along the lines of the Maffia." - Winston Niles Rumfoord.

August 13 2008, 07:41 AM	#3
tomalak301 Admiral Location: Bay Area, CA	Re: Michael Phelps - Is he human or metahuman? The guy is insane. What a race and what a fun swimmer to watch.

August 13 2008, 10:45 AM	#4
RJDiogenes Idealistic Cynic and Canon Champion Location: RJDiogenes of Boston	Re: Michael Phelps - Is he human or metahuman? I can run up the stairs without getting out of breath. If there's not too many. Unfortunately, I also have to commit the strenuous act of moving this thread to the Sports Forum. * Gasp. Wheeze. * __________________ Please stop by my Gallery and YouTube Page for a visit. And read Trunkards!

August 13 2008, 10:49 AM	#5
SalvorHardin Rear Admiral Location: Star's End	Re: Michael Phelps - Is he human or metahuman? Is he human, metahuman or up to his ears with the most current, top substances the anti-doping agencies are unable to detect yet ? Yes,I don't have much faith in the Olympics or their champions anymore...

STAR TREK

CSI

ABOUT US

August 13 2008, 03:49 PM	#6
nevermore Admiral Location: quoth the raven, nevermore	Re: Michael Phelps - Is he human or metahuman? ^He volunteered to take part in extra doping tests, as well as a new program that maps his body chemistry continuously for any signs of deviations. I think he's clean. He's just a ridiculously hard trainer who happened to be born with the right body, including a literally freakish aerobic capacity. The latter is why he can recover as quickly as he can and why he can excel in an unprecedented program. __________________ What is a country without the shackles of it's past?

August 13 2008, 07:41 PM	#8
Gryffindorian Vice Admiral Location: Hogwarts	Re: Michael Phelps - Is he human or metahuman? Ohmigosh, I completely forgot there was a Sports Forum on the BBS. No wonder I didn't see any Olympic discussions in MISC. Did he just win another gold medal that I'm not aware of? The last event NBC showed Phelps was the Men's relay. I fell asleep around midnight and couldn't stay up to watch the women's gymnastic team finals last night. Thanks a lot, NBC. __________________ "I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve." --Bilbo Baggins, LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring

August 16 2008, 07:44 PM	#11
Nobody Blame me, I voted Obama	Re: Michael Phelps - Is he human or metahuman? I get the feeling he's actually God -- and he's toying with the rest of the field until the last leg and wills himself to win. If someone beats him, that is when he will decide to bring about judgment day. At least that's what NBC says. -nobody __________________ I'm Nobody. Who are you? http://www.geekspeakradio.us

August 16 2008, 08:26 PM	#13
J. Allen Professional Enabler Location: A Quantum State	Re: Michael Phelps - Is he human or metahuman? Did you watch this morning? I caught the Men's 100m butterfly. Phelps beat Cavic by one-one hundredths of a second. It was insane! J. __________________ The most horrible suffering one can bring upon another person in dire need, is that of indifference. With love, you try to uplift their life. With hatred, you seek to end that life. With indifference, however, you seek merely to render it inconsequential.

August 16 2008, 08:42 PM	#14
KeepOnTrekking Commodore	Re: Michael Phelps - Is he human or metahuman? Insane...but exciting!! As well as gold medal #7!! When he was younger, he kinda looked like the Golden Age Prince Namor with the triangular face and his pointed ears bobbed. Maybe that would explain his superhuman performance in the Olympics.