Beneath The Surface 197-282

Summary
Michael and Bob were in Athens, Greece. This meant that the 2004 Olympic Games were on. It was the time for Michael to show what he had been training for this whole time. Michael was rooming with the captain of the USA team, Lenny. When Michael needed to relax, he would watch Miracle. It was Michaels favorite movie. The Games had officially started and Michael was ready for his first race. It was a very close race, but Michaels hard training with Bob had officially paid of. Both Bob and him were happy with the results. It was Michaels first gold medal, and that was one of the happiest moments of Michaels life. But the Games were still on and Michael had other races that he needed training for. He knew at that moment that this Olympic Games were going to be a very huge success in his life. But the Games had just started. Eventually that one gold medal led to another gold medal, and that one led to another gold medal. Bob and Michael kept practicing after every race, because Michael needed all the training he could get. Not only that, but Michael also broke world records. The day after the 200 free was the only time during the Games that Michael had to swim two finals on the same evening. Even though he only had fourty minutes between races, Michael did his best to spend those minutes efficiently. Michael had won six individual events, what made him the first person to ever do that for the U.S team. By winning six gold medals and two bronze medals, he had made his dream come true. When the swimming competition was over, Michael finally had some time to spend watching other events, and he was finally able to take some time off the hard work training that he had been doing. Michael not only had accomplished his dream of winning one gold medal in the Olympics, but he had succeded way above it by winning eight medals overall in one Olympic Game. Now all he had to think about were the 2008 Olympic Games.

Quote
"I'll always regret not having a chance to race with him in Athens" (Phelps 268).
Michael said this after the news he got about Ian Thorpe retiring.

Reaction
This quote is very interesting. It is showing us how Michael feels about Ian Thorpe retiring form swimming. This quote is also showing us that Michael wanted to race Ian Thorpe, because he was one of the best that there had been, and to be the best, you have to defeat the best. And I think that is exactly what Phelps was trying to do.