July 20, 2012
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Games Central
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All eyes on Phelps
ichael Phelps made a huge Olympic splash four years ago in Beijing, winning eight gold medals in the most dominating performance in Olympic history. Phelps, 26, has made it clear that London will be his final Olympics and he’ll be looking to go out with a bang, needing just three medals to break the all-time record. The “Baltimore Bullet” has won 16 medals (14 gold) in two Olympic Games, but he enters the London Olympics with some questions regarding his commitment to the sport. Phelps has stated that he’s growing tired of the water and is looking forward to a life after swimming. That said, don’t expect this fiery competitor to breeze through his final Olympics just to break a record. He’ll be in every race to win it. Over the past few months, Phelps has appeared to be lacking his trademark intensity, but after a grueling six-week training session with coach Bob Bowman, the “flying fish” looks to be on course. In the preceding weeks, he’s been working tirelessly in the mountains of Colorado. The secluded, high-altitude training locale has given Phelps the chance to fine-tune his strokes and technique without any distractions. After two second-place finishes at the 2012 Charlotte Grand Prix, Phelps admitted that he lacked focus and needed to improve his technique in preparation for London. The pre-Olympic training has Phelps in the best shape of his life, ready to defend his eight gold medals. After dominating the competition for more than a decade, it’s little surprise that he’s looking for a new challenge. Although still unsure of what he’ll do next, Phelps has stated that he’d like to play
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Signal Tribune
youngest male swimmer to make a US Olympic team in 68 years. Since then, he’s reigned over the swimming world, winning countless international competitions with 16 Olympic medals and counting. Whatever results from the London Games, Phelps will go down in history as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, swimmers of all time.
the world’s top 100 golf courses, travel the world and most importantly, sleep in. Who can blame the guy after all the work he’s put into his life thus far. He’s given up a lot to reach this point of his career, and after these Games, it will surely be satisfying to reflect on what he’s accomplished in such a short period of time. He was 15 years old when he competed in the 2000 Sydney Games, where he became the
14-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps Courtesy USA Olympic Commitee
2012 Games aims for legacy over glitz
ondon’s dream of hosting the 30th Olympiad became reality in July 2005. Since that moment, the iconic city has become infused with both optimism and doubt. The long road to the opening ceremonies is nearing its end, and with the 2012 Summer Olympics just days away, London is poised to host the world. While the eyes of the world will be focused on London during the coming weeks, organizers have made a conscious choice to priori-
tize the Games’ legacy rather than attempt to match Beijing’s 2008 wow factor. Since construction began on the Olympic Park in London’s East End– a segment of the city that was heavily bombed in World War II– the area has been treated to a massive facelift. A major objective of London 2012 is to leave behind venues and usable infrastructure that will serve the London community for generations. Following the Games, the Olympic Park will become a mas-
sive, urban park with newly planted trees, canals and wetland habitats. The public transport networks have undergone vast improvements and the Olympic and Paralympic Village will be converted into new housing with more than 1,300 affordable homes. A chief motive for most cities to secure Olympic Games is the subsequent investment in decaying infrastructure. The result for London is a renewed urban landscape and a regeneration of some of the city’s poorest neighborhoods. The newly
redeveloped East London will now be a showcase to the world and an aspiring example of the benefit of hosting an Olympic Games. As with any Olympic city, London has faced its share of criticism, but in the days and weeks to come, the historic location will have its chance to prove the doubters wrong and put on a show to dazzle the world. Britain’s capital defeated Singapore, Moscow, New York City, Madrid and Paris to be awarded its unprecedented third Olympic Games.