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World domination in the pool was almost easy compared to complexities of household chores, figuring out how to put the right soap in the dishwasher, replacing the batteries in the fire alarm and trying to operate without cereal bowls on hand.
Michael Phelps, thy name is improvisation.
If nothing else, the eight-time Olympic medalist can change on the fly. After all, he holds the world record in 200-meter butterfly, and gold medals at that distance and in the 100 butterfly at Athens.
So he found an empty Gatorade bottle and tried to pour cereal into it, sought assistance in tackling a truly dangerous task, laundry, and called his coach and mentor Bob Bowman one day last week when his fire alarm wouldn't stop going off. Bowman suggested changing the battery.
"One of the things I've tried to do at Michigan is stay away as much as possible from his life away from the pool, and to let him make his own mistakes and learn from them," said Bowman yesterday, noting the fire alarm phone call was one of the exceptions. "He had to learn the hard way sometimes."
The end result?
"I know he's stronger, a lot more mature," Bowman said. "He's been through some things that have helped him grow as a person, which I think are very good. I think he's on the right track. Handling things better ... he's basically grown up. It happens."
That might be the most intimidating thing for swimmers in the other seven lanes, not only at the Olympics in Beijing in 2008, but at this week's U.S. Summer National Championships in Irvine, Calif. Bowman's answer was also in response to whether Phelps could end up being better in Beijing.
Irvine will offer something of a first look on the road to Beijing, as it is a qualifier for the Pan Pacific Championships in Victoria, British Columbia, later this month, and the World Championships next year in Melbourne, Australia.
Phelps, of Rodgers Forge, is scheduled to swim six individual races - starting today with the 400 individual medley.
His motivation goes beyond Hungarian rival Laszlo Cseh. In addition to the 400 individual medley and the 200 freestyle, he is scheduled to swim the two butterfly races, the 200 individual medley and the 200 backstroke. The latter race, the 200 backstroke, on the final day, represents a formidable challenge against Olympic gold medalist and world-record holder Aaron Peirsol.
Michael Phelps, thy name is improvisation.
If nothing else, the eight-time Olympic medalist can change on the fly. After all, he holds the world record in 200-meter butterfly, and gold medals at that distance and in the 100 butterfly at Athens.
So he found an empty Gatorade bottle and tried to pour cereal into it, sought assistance in tackling a truly dangerous task, laundry, and called his coach and mentor Bob Bowman one day last week when his fire alarm wouldn't stop going off. Bowman suggested changing the battery.
"One of the things I've tried to do at Michigan is stay away as much as possible from his life away from the pool, and to let him make his own mistakes and learn from them," said Bowman yesterday, noting the fire alarm phone call was one of the exceptions. "He had to learn the hard way sometimes."
The end result?
"I know he's stronger, a lot more mature," Bowman said. "He's been through some things that have helped him grow as a person, which I think are very good. I think he's on the right track. Handling things better ... he's basically grown up. It happens."
That might be the most intimidating thing for swimmers in the other seven lanes, not only at the Olympics in Beijing in 2008, but at this week's U.S. Summer National Championships in Irvine, Calif. Bowman's answer was also in response to whether Phelps could end up being better in Beijing.
Irvine will offer something of a first look on the road to Beijing, as it is a qualifier for the Pan Pacific Championships in Victoria, British Columbia, later this month, and the World Championships next year in Melbourne, Australia.
Phelps, of Rodgers Forge, is scheduled to swim six individual races - starting today with the 400 individual medley.
His motivation goes beyond Hungarian rival Laszlo Cseh. In addition to the 400 individual medley and the 200 freestyle, he is scheduled to swim the two butterfly races, the 200 individual medley and the 200 backstroke. The latter race, the 200 backstroke, on the final day, represents a formidable challenge against Olympic gold medalist and world-record holder Aaron Peirsol.
Lisa Dillman writes for the Los Angeles Times.
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