David EdwardsPhelps Ensures That Thorpe Is Distant Memory
March 27th 2007 13:36
During the World Swimming Championships tonight, American swimmer Michael Phelps has taken one further step in making sure that his former rival in the pool, the retired Ian Thorpe, becomes a distant memory after he absolutely demolished the record held by Thorpe for 200m freestyle.
In the final tonight, Phelps shaved a staggering 1.5 seconds of his personal best time to beat Thorpe’s world record time of 1:44.06, taking the gold medal with the new world record time of 1:43.86 seconds.
Thorpe’s other long-time rival, Netherland’s Pieter van den Hoogenband, took the silver with the time of 1:46.28, whilst South Korea’s Park Tae Hwan won bronze with 1:46.73.
Phelps, who was during Thorpe’s stellar career was always closely battling him in the pool, has now set the mark to be the swimmer to match in the pool. Whilst Phelps was always a thorn in ‘King Thorpey’s” side, it seems that he is destined to rise head and shoulders above young wonderkid’s records, yet not many would think that it would happen so soon.
Whilst the mark that Ian Thorpe left on the swimming world is still cooling down, Phelps has taken the call to become the new leader of the pool. While it can be said that Phelps was always a big fish in a little pond for the majority of his career, it can also be said that no matter how hard Phelps pushed himself in the various races he won in his home country, it was always hard to get out of the shadow of Thorpe’s giant figure.
Yet with Thorpe now out of the picture, retired from the sport and now considering his many media options, Phelps is in perfect position to become the new number one contender in the freestyle event.
However, nothing is perfect in the pool. If Phelps has taken the crown from the retired king, then he must take on his old enemies as well. Van den Hoogenband was never in contention of upstaging Phelps tonight, yet the master from the Netherlands is always the dark horse in the competition, upstaging the champion and any possible moment. Yet Phelps’ biggest concern is the third placed finisher tonight, the Korean kid Park Tae Hwan who is making waves on the circuit, and seems to have no other place than up.
Yet, with all these rivals in the pool, there is no doubt that no one will be able to fill the massive shoes that Thorpe has left behind. Phelps himself claimed he was disappointed when he was unable to fight him in one of his signature races.
But Phelps is obviously excited about the opportunity to become swimming’s biggest star. Pushing himself to the absolute limit tonight, shaving over a second of his personal best time in the race means that Phelps is on an aggressive attack on making sure his name is always above Thorpe’s in the record books.
That is, until, the next wonderkid arrives.
Until next time, sports minds.
In the final tonight, Phelps shaved a staggering 1.5 seconds of his personal best time to beat Thorpe’s world record time of 1:44.06, taking the gold medal with the new world record time of 1:43.86 seconds.
Thorpe’s other long-time rival, Netherland’s Pieter van den Hoogenband, took the silver with the time of 1:46.28, whilst South Korea’s Park Tae Hwan won bronze with 1:46.73.
Phelps, who was during Thorpe’s stellar career was always closely battling him in the pool, has now set the mark to be the swimmer to match in the pool. Whilst Phelps was always a thorn in ‘King Thorpey’s” side, it seems that he is destined to rise head and shoulders above young wonderkid’s records, yet not many would think that it would happen so soon.
Whilst the mark that Ian Thorpe left on the swimming world is still cooling down, Phelps has taken the call to become the new leader of the pool. While it can be said that Phelps was always a big fish in a little pond for the majority of his career, it can also be said that no matter how hard Phelps pushed himself in the various races he won in his home country, it was always hard to get out of the shadow of Thorpe’s giant figure.
Yet with Thorpe now out of the picture, retired from the sport and now considering his many media options, Phelps is in perfect position to become the new number one contender in the freestyle event.
However, nothing is perfect in the pool. If Phelps has taken the crown from the retired king, then he must take on his old enemies as well. Van den Hoogenband was never in contention of upstaging Phelps tonight, yet the master from the Netherlands is always the dark horse in the competition, upstaging the champion and any possible moment. Yet Phelps’ biggest concern is the third placed finisher tonight, the Korean kid Park Tae Hwan who is making waves on the circuit, and seems to have no other place than up.
Yet, with all these rivals in the pool, there is no doubt that no one will be able to fill the massive shoes that Thorpe has left behind. Phelps himself claimed he was disappointed when he was unable to fight him in one of his signature races.
But Phelps is obviously excited about the opportunity to become swimming’s biggest star. Pushing himself to the absolute limit tonight, shaving over a second of his personal best time in the race means that Phelps is on an aggressive attack on making sure his name is always above Thorpe’s in the record books.
That is, until, the next wonderkid arrives.
Until next time, sports minds.
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