Training Lessons From Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps, 14-time Olympic gold medalist, recently had to make a dramatic comeback to win the gold in the 100-meter butterfly at the Pan Pacific Championships. Surprisingly, he didn’t even qualify for the 400 individual medley, an event he has dominated in the past. How did Phelps go from blowing away his competition to becoming a mere mortal?
Phelps claims that his fitness isn’t where it should be. “I couldn’t get it going,” he says. “There are a lot of things I can work on to improve.”
Even for a record-breaking athlete like Phelps, slacking off in the weight room leads to a dramatic reduction in performance. Your competition is always working hard to improve, so by neglecting your training, you give them the competitive edge.
Dive right into the weight room and get training. USA Swimming gave STACK an exclusive look at how to increase swimming speed with in-pool workouts; and the University of Texas swim team, a perennial powerhouse, revealed why maintaining flexibility is crucial for winning. Learn from Phelps: to slice your times, maintain your training program.
Source: Mark Lamport-Stokes/Reuters
Photo: Getty Images
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
MOST POPULAR
Training Lessons From Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps, 14-time Olympic gold medalist, recently had to make a dramatic comeback to win the gold in the 100-meter butterfly at the Pan Pacific Championships. Surprisingly, he didn’t even qualify for the 400 individual medley, an event he has dominated in the past. How did Phelps go from blowing away his competition to becoming a mere mortal?
Phelps claims that his fitness isn’t where it should be. “I couldn’t get it going,” he says. “There are a lot of things I can work on to improve.”
Even for a record-breaking athlete like Phelps, slacking off in the weight room leads to a dramatic reduction in performance. Your competition is always working hard to improve, so by neglecting your training, you give them the competitive edge.
Dive right into the weight room and get training. USA Swimming gave STACK an exclusive look at how to increase swimming speed with in-pool workouts; and the University of Texas swim team, a perennial powerhouse, revealed why maintaining flexibility is crucial for winning. Learn from Phelps: to slice your times, maintain your training program.
Source: Mark Lamport-Stokes/Reuters
Photo: Getty Images