I try to separate my personal life from swimming.

I don't want to be the next Mark Spitz; I want to be the first Michael Phelps

If you want to be the best you have to do things that other people aren't willing to do.

I think sometimes I guess you see records, say you want to get there and use that as motivation. In a way, it's kind of cool if there is a possibility to rewrite history and be up there with the greats of Olympic history.

[Phelps] firmly denies that he takes drugs, suggesting that the notorious photo of him smoking from a bong was a one-time lapse of judgment.

At a very young age, I wrote down the goals that I had so I could always see what I wanted to accomplish. And I would look at that goal sheet and think "I still want to do this."So I'd decide "I'm not quitting."

Before, it came easy for me. I don't have two speeds anymore. I need to focus on the small things that I once took for granted.