Michael Phelps On Making Olympic History

Swimming Superstar Gives His First Extensive Post-Olympics Interview

(CBS)  Her life may have gotten crazy, but Debbie has not quit her day job. She's a principal at a middle school in Baltimore. Her only complaint? One echoed by mothers everywhere: her son doesn't call enough.

She told Cooper their main form of communicating is texting. "I found that he always didn't return phone calls. But I know he's always texting all the time. So, I taught myself how to text," she explained.

He may be too busy to call, but he is quick to tell you what his mom did for him as a single parent. "For everything she's done for me growing up, I'm happy. I'm happy that she's getting recognized for everything she's done 'cause it’s been so much of a big impact on my life."

"I owe her the world," he added.

Her reaction to that statement? "You made me cry Anderson. That's a lot. I was a parent that wanted my kid to do well," she said, tearing up.

Michael's success has allowed him to buy a $1.5 million apartment in his hometown Baltimore.

What is so remarkable about Phelps is how unremarkable he is outside the pool. Take a tour of the apartment, and you quickly see he is at heart a 23-year-old kid. Asked if he even has food in the apartment, Phelps said, "We have some stuff, mostly drinks, cereal, chips."

"Rice Krispie treats, Nutri Grain, Reese’s peanut butter cups. Definitely a bachelor’s pad," Cooper remarked, taking stock.

His prodigious appetite remains in tact. Over a breakfast of Eggs Norfolk with crab meat and a quesadilla with sour cream he was anxious to dispel one myth: he says it's not true he eats 12,000 calories a day.

So how much does he eat? It's a mere 8,000 to 10,000 calories - when he’s training. "Like how much I work out, you know, I have to always just constantly shovel food in because I can lose anywhere from, you know, five to 10 pounds in a week," he explained.

When Cooper interviewed Phelps, he said he weighed in at 205 lbs. - the heaviest he'd ever been. "I’ve never been over 200 pounds," Phelps said.

Phelps plans to resume training again in January for the London Olympics in 2012. When 60 Minutes was with him, he took a swim - only the fourth time he had been in the pool since Beijing. While there, he and his coach Bob Bowman brought out a secret list.

The list was put together the year before the Olympics. On it were the times Phelps hoped to achieve in Beijing. It turns out he was off by nearly a second in the 200-meter butterfly, when his goggles filled with water.

Phelps says he didn't consider that a successful race.

"I think a lot of people would be surprised that that you left Beijing a little disappointed," Cooper remarked.

"There were two races I didn’t hit. The 100 and 200 fly. Those are the only two where I didn't hit my actual goal time of what I wanted," Phelps explained.

"So it was disappointing?" Cooper asked.

"Not as a whole," Phelps replied, laughing.

[kukini]

Did I see Michael and Anderson in the SUV without seat belts on? If so, shame on the both of you!!

[hughjastic]

And then I make my own stupid typo. Heh.

its

[hughjastic]

Anderson,
Fun piece. Well done.

Minor points:

1. "an historic"? Really?
2. enormity. It's become ok for people to mistake this word for meaning what it sounds like, but it's original meaning is quite horrible.

Keep up the good work.

an hysterical fan,
hj

[avigil2]

To swimgirl9: please learn how to use the mouse by clicking on "Publish" just once.

[stevenst3]

Shame on you 60 minutes for failing to mention that Michael Phelps won 8 gold medals only because of his team mates, specifically Mr. Jason Lezak. If not for Jason''s blistering anchor leg in the 400 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay, Mr. Phelps would have gone home with 6 medals and we would be spared such one-sided stories like this one. Sadly, neither Mr. Phelps nor the interviewer displayed the maturity or grace to even recognize or compliment Mr. Phelps team mates. It should be noted that Mr. Lezak (and others) likely worked just as hard as Mr. Phelps to prepare for the 2008 olympics (i.e., for their whole lives). Furthermore, at age 32, it may have even been a bit more difficult for Mr. Lezak to prepare; did he have numerous sponsors keeping him afloat or did he have to go to a day job? Unfortunately, the corporate world let Mr. Lezak and the other accomplished swim team members of the 2008 games fade into obscurity even though Mr. Lezak and a few others now hold gold medals; Mr. Lezaks were earned from arguably two of the most exciting races in the water cube. That said, those of us at Mr. Lezak''s alma mater (UC Santa Barbara), and most certainly his college coach Gregg Wilson, are really proud, and we wish him all the success he earned.

[swrf35]

Oh Anderson, Don''t call yourself middle-aged. And that race wasn''t fair - you didn''t even have goggles on. I''d ask for a re-match!
Given other Phelps'' interviews I''ve seen - this was excellent - no offense to anyone, but direct questions soliciting Phelps'' limited responses are probably the best for an interview. Well done Anderson.

[librablue-2009]

I thought Anderson did a great job with this interview of Phelps. He put a lot into a few minutes. It was interesting to hear how Michael feels about his success a few months after the Olympics.

Without being intrusive, Anderson gave us a little peek into Michael''s personal life by introducing us to Michael''s mother and his dog Herman, he even showed us Michael''s new apartment. We also got some insight into Michael''s training regiment and eating habits as well as his financial future.

I thought it was very professional of Michael to admit how he won the race for his seventh gold medal against Cavic. No matter what, it doesn''t diminish his hard won victory.

To top it off, Anderson even "exposed" himself just for fun in the "uneven race." What more could anyone want?

[p_a_rice]

Mr. Cooper,
Please consult your dictionary before you use the word "enormity" [as in "The enormity of his achievement still hasn''t completely sunk in."]. I don''t believe you intend to say that Mr. Phelps'' achievement was notable for being outrageously wicked.
Let''s keep the usage of this word distinct from "enormous."

[p_a_rice]

Mr. Cooper,
Please consult your dictionary before you use the word "enormity" [as in "The enormity of his achievement still hasn''t completely sunk in."]. I don''t believe you intend to say that Mr. Phelps'' achievement was notable for being outrageously wicked. Let''s keep the usage of this word distinct from "enormous."

[p_a_rice]

Mr. Cooper,
Please consult your dictionary before you use the word "enormity" [as in "The enormity of his achievement still hasn''t completely sunk in."]. I don''t believe you intend to say that Mr. Phelps'' achievement was notable for being outrageously wicked. Let''s keep the usage of this word distinct from "enormous."

[dhill401]

I was surprised to find at the beginning and end of this interview you encouraged Michael Phelps to compete against you while holding his breath. I realize he is conditioned and well coached. However kids and adults viewing this interview may feel this is an acceptable technique to swim better. As a Red Cross Lifeguard and Water Safety instructor, I encourage CBS to fill the blanks. "I saw Michael Phelps do it." Swimming pools across the country need to help protect swimmers and allowing hypoxia drills can lead to what happened in the following article.

Swimmer discovers dangers of water blackout
By Laura Elder
The Daily News
Lifesaving Resources Inc. - www.lifesaving.com - 603/563-8330
Published November 23, 2003
GALVESTON %u2014 When Ball High swim team member Stephanie Scofelia was floating face down in the school%u2019s pool during practice, her teammates thought it was a joke.
Scofelia, 15, was just finishing a 50-meter swim under water the evening of Nov. 12, when her teammates saw her floating near the wall of the pool, her arms and legs hanging limply. %u201CI swam to her and flipped her over,%u201D said teammate and friend Anna Hyatt %u201CThat%u2019s when I knew there was a problem.%u201D
Hyatt, 15, and teammate Marissa Streck, 16, pulled a blue and unconscious Scofelia out of the water and called for swim coach Hope Trevino.

[techai]

Mr. Cooper,
If you are going to interview someone you might as well know something about them. For example like knowing that Michael Phelps is known for his underwater kick, and actually you could not really have picked a better "stroke" for him to swim. If you would like to race him, your best chance would be to make him do breaststroke since that is his worst stroke.

[techai]

Mr. Cooper,
If you are going to interview someone you might as well know something about them. For example like knowing that Michael Phelps is known for his underwater kick, and actually you could not really have picked a better "stroke" for him to swim. If you would like to race him, your best chance would be to make him do breaststroke since that is his worst stroke.

[techai]

Mr. Cooper,
If you are going to interview someone you might as well know something about them. For example like knowing that Michael Phelps is known for his underwater kick, and actually you could not really have picked a better "stroke" for him to swim. If you would like to race him, your best chance would be to make him do breaststroke since that is his worst stroke.

[techai]

Mr. Cooper,
If you are going to interview someone you might as well know something about them. For example like knowing that Michael Phelps is known for his underwater kick, and actually you could not really have picked a better "stroke" for him to swim. If you would like to race him, your best chance would be to make him do breaststroke since that is his worst stroke.

[techai]

Mr. Cooper,
If you are going to interview someone you might as well know something about them. For example like knowing that Michael Phelps is known for his underwater kick, and actually you could not really have picked a better "stroke" for him to swim. If you would like to race him, your best chance would be to make him do breaststroke since that is his worst stroke.

[techai]

Mr. Cooper,
If you are going to interview someone you might as well know something about them. For example like knowing that Michael Phelps is known for his underwater kick, and actually you could not really have picked a better "stroke" for him to swim. If you would like to race him, your best chance would be to make him do breaststroke since that is his worst stroke.

[techai]

Mr. Cooper,
If you are going to interview someone you might as well know something about them. For example like knowing that Michael Phelps is known for his underwater kick, and actually you could not really have picked a better "stroke" for him to swim. If you would like to race him, your best chance would be to make him do breaststroke since that is his worst stroke.

[techai]

Mr. Cooper,
If you are going to interview someone you might as well know something about them. For example like knowing that Michael Phelps is known for his underwater kick, and actually you could not really have picked a better "stroke" for him to swim. If you would like to race him, your best chance would be to make him do breaststroke since that is his worst stroke.

[techai]

Mr. Cooper,
If you are going to interview someone you might as well know something about them. For example like knowing that Michael Phelps is known for his underwater kick, and actually you could not really have picked a better "stroke" for him to swim. If you would like to race him, your best chance would be to make him do breaststroke since that is his worst stroke.