Do you think Michael Phelps can keep up this level of swimming and training for other four years?

Question

I mean in four years he might be already married and have kids so he wont have the same time to train so much.

Answer 1

I don't believe a wife & kids would be the main issue.  Married or not, after reaching the top, does he personally have the ambition, fire, and hunger for more?  Or will he become content with what he already has?

There are some athletes - Tiger Woods, Lance Armstrong, & Michael Jordan are examples - who are not satisfied with merely reaching the top.  They have a continual desire to keep on competing and proving themselves the best.  Other athletes get a sense of fulfillment from  achieving their goal of being the best, then move on to other things.  Who heard much of anything about Mark Spitz after he won his 7 gold metals in 1972?

Which category will Michael Phelps fall into?  We don't know yet; perhaps even Michael isn't sure right now.  It remains to be seen whether 16 Olympic medals are enough, or an estimated $40 million in endorsements will leave him wanting even more, or the intense glare of the celebrity spotlight is something he'll love or detest.

If he desires to compete in 2012, it should come as no surprise it would be significantly more difficult to remain on top than it was the preceding 4 years.  He will be older, his competition younger and more determined than ever to knock him off his throne.

CAN he do it?  If he wants it badly enough, and is fortunate enough to avoid nagging injuries, my answer would be yes.  Do I think he will?  Time will tell, but if I had to answer today - my prediction would be, most likely, no.  

Answer 2

I think it would all depend on what is going on in his life in four years.. A LOT can happen in just a year. I am sure he could, but he may not want to.

Answer 3

He said this is his last Olympics

Answer 4

He's already said he doesn't plan on competing as much (if any) at the 2012 Olympics.

Answer 5

From the following articles he said he still has no intention to quit yet.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/id...

http://www.squidoo.com/Michael-Phelps-Sw...