I consider myself normal. I've spent 20 years in the pool. I consider that something that's normal.
Michael PhelpsI'm fortunate to have an amazing, strong mother who is so supportive of everything me and my sisters did growing up - but she was someone who never forced us to go swim or to go do this or that. She helped us think about certain consequences when we needed to, but we made our own decisions. I think if I were forced to swim, I wouldn't have stayed in the pool as long as I did.
Michael PhelpsBefore, 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.
Michael PhelpsIf you look at me, basically my whole entire life I've been around water. So when you look at a stat like, "If you leave the faucet running for two minutes while you brush your teeth you waste four gallons of water," to me that's mind-blowing. There are so many people that don't even have access to clean water, and people leave their faucets running. For me it was something that fit with things that I believe in.
Michael Phelps