Phelps Plus Plus

August 20, 2008

Article for the column “Mirror Image” (Business Mirror, August 20, 2008)

 

“Phelps Plus Plus”

 

By Rene F. Concepcion

 

Many journalists have already written about Michael Phelps, and there’s no question their words are inspirational.  When a writer has a subject of extreme genius, any dummy can describe the once-in-a-lifetime gift the world has in the form of Michael Phelps.

 

So it’s time to write about other champions, someone like Jason Lezak.  Without him, Phelps would have one less gold medal.  As anchor of the 4×100-meter freestyle relay, Lezak had to chase Frenchman Alain Bernard, who at the time of the race was the world-record holder in the 100-meter freestyle, the event for which Bernard eventually won Olympic gold.  If the world-record holder has a lead, everyone probably agrees that chasing the fastest guy in the planet is impossible.  At one point, Lezak did picture defeat.

 

“I’m not going to lie,” Lezak said in the media conference after. “The thought really crossed my mind for a split-second, ‘There’s no way (to catch Bernard).’ ” But great champions find a way.  Lezak swam the most mind-boggling 100-meter freestyle relay time of 46.06 seconds.  For swimmers, this statistic is so incredible it’s like saying Tiger eagled all 18 holes, or Lebron scored 30 points per period.

 

At age 32 (old by swimming standards), with no major endorsement deals, and choosing to coach himself (training alone instead of with a team), plus harboring disappointing defeats from Sydney and Athens, Lezak proved that when the mind and body is faced with supreme obstacles, a superhuman spirit suddenly soars because it is imperative to be super.

 

Since the start of the Beijing Olympiad, I’ve been asked by reporters, organizations, and even good friends to describe the spirit of the Olympics.  I would hardly talk about my performance, but more so the qualities I saw in others.  Since many journalists have already described the greatness of a hundred Olympic feats, adding to the canon of stories is pointless unless I finally write about my personal Olympic experience. 

 

I did my lifetime best times two times, and faltered the other two times.  I guess my swimming results were 50-50.  Of course, I pushed myself 100 percent in all four events.  But as I climbed out of the pool each time, best time or not, and knowing I would never make it to the next round, I guess it took a lot of guts to accept being a tiny fish from a small pond, sunk in a big Olympic ocean.

 

Yet everybody, and I mean everybody, has a competitive nature.  No one will settle for silver if they can grab gold.  Since I was never going to win in the Olympic arena, I suppose my competitive nature automatically turned to something else that needed superhuman spirit.  And you know what, I bet Olympic gold medalists wouldn’t have the mettle to fight the fight I’ve been fighting for the past 20 years.  I’ve chosen to compete against the monster called Philippine Sports!  

 

I’m realistic — we aren’t going to produce the likes of Michael Phelps in the Philippines.  But all countries, including ours, can create bravehearts like Jason Lezak.  If only Philippine sport doesn’t shoot itself in the foot before stepping onto the plane for the Games.

 

There isn’t enough space in this column to describe in detail the heartache of Seoul ’88.  I repeat, it wasn’t because of my swimming.  It was because of thieving.  What was stolen?  For one, Philippine pride — our national flag fell to the ground because instead of embroidered flags sewn onto our parade uniforms, we were given car stickers that obviously couldn’t stick to cheap polyester.  You want to hear another?  Well, I could write an entire novel about fighting the monster.  I just hope my heart is brave enough to have a victory ceremony at the end of this story that’s a never-ending call to adventure.

 

In the meantime, I try to enjoy and appreciate the big and small blessings that come our way.  The other night, I saw Lebron James make this incredible bouncing pass in the USA versus Spain basketball game.  Plus, I felt emotional seeing 41-year old US swimmer Dara Torres crying on the victory stand.  Was she sad because she only got silver, or was she in tears because even she felt so much honor with her amazingly unbelievable achievement? 

 

To end, I must return to Michael Phelps, and say my two-cents-worth.  Despite his historic eight gold medal haul, I’m so happy to see that he is still a very simple, good guy.  He may be a monster in the pool, but I know he will never make a monster out of sports.

 

Professor Rene F. Concepcion is a full-time faculty member in the De La Salle University – Manila Ramon V. del Rosario Sr. Graduate School of Business.  He teaches Sports and Recreation Management and Culture and Arts Management.  He is currently on his one-year sabbatical, but he continues to be coach the DLSU varsity swimming team.  This is the second of three parts that Professor Concepcion will write on the Olympic Games.  Part three will appear on September 3, 2008.  Comments can be sent to his email address:  concepcionr@dlsu.edu.ph