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Phelps' Incredible Olympics A Great Distraction For Americans

Highlands Today staff

Published: August 14, 2008

Every so often, something so amazing and extraordinary comes along that makes people take interest in things they might never otherwise care about. That's happening right now in the Summer Olympics in the swimming events. We're being treated to something we might not see again in our lifetimes.

You don't have to be a sports fan to marvel at what U.S. Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps has been doing in Beijing. The aquatic wunderkind has won gold medals in every event he's entered, and broken world records each time as well.

Every time he hits the water, viewers across the globe watch as he beats the world's best swimmers. He doesn't just beat them, he destroys them. It's usually not even close. And he was a team member of one of the most memorable swimming relay races ever televised.

After winning six gold medals in Greece during the last Olympics, he's been determined to break the total gold medal count, as well as Mark Spitz's seven gold medal record in one Olympics decades ago. Phelps has already won five medals during these games, for a total of 11 gold medals in all so far. That's an Olympic record.

What's most impressive is that Phelps seems like a good kid who works incredibly hard and has God-given talents that no one else can match. He's not cocky, but he's a competitor in the best sense of the word.

As Americans it's fun to have someone so talented to root for. It's difficult to imagine anyone watching his incredible feats who doesn't watch in awe of his abilities, even if they are cheering on their own country's athletes.

There is a long list of serious problems we all have been worrying about during these difficult days, that's why this distraction is so enjoyable. Now let's hope he takes eight gold medals and achieves his dream. The rest of us get to see something incredible.

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