Is Michael Phelps considered a pro athlete or an amateur?

Question

no it is not obvious, that is why i ask.

Answer 1

Amateur

Answer 2

PRO!

Answer 3

pro. 8 gold medals in one olympic games? yeah i'd say thats pro.

Answer 4

totally pro.

anyone who says hes an amateur is either blind and deaf, or is just green with envy.

( :

Answer 5

Well technically there is no league for swimming, no official teams besides the national team.

There's no pro circuit for swimmers, so no swimmer is a pro.

So in a sence he would be considered pro since he is such a great athlete, but technically no he's not pro.

Answer 6

It used to be that to participate in the olympics, you had to be an amateur, but I guess that things change...I mean, we (US) have got members of the NBA playin...they're pros...

I think Michael is considered amateur though...maybe?...no?  I dunno. lol

:]

Answer 7

Pro. He was an amateur in Sydney in 2000.

Answer 8

PRO he's sponsored!

Answer 9

You people don't understand. The terms pro. and amateur have nothing to do with the persons ability or performance.

Answer 10

nope

Answer 11

Pro, which is why he can't swim for his college's swim team.

Answer 12

Things like this are one thing that annoys a lot of people.

Athletes like Michael Phelps are able to train all the time to be in the Olympics. That kind of dedication is beyond "amateur" status, but the Olympics are only supposed to be amateurs. Depending on your definition, people like Michael Phelps, Kobe Bryant, and many other athletes should not be in Beijing.

Answer 13

Isnt this obvious? >.<.

8 GOLD MEDALS/ 8 OLYMPIC EVENTS

It is obvious..