Both of those features could definitely give him a competitive advantage. On June 30th, 1985, Michael and Deborah Phelps became the proud parents of a child that would go on to be the most decorated Olympian in history. Later diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, he began swimming at the age of 7 as an outlet for his energy, and by age 10, held a national record for webtoon wrapped his age group in the 100-meter butterfly. He began to train at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club under the guidance of swim coach Bob Bowman—the man who would go on to coach Phelps through his Olympic career. This is when swimmers have that sense of moving the water around them and how much water they are displacing. There are many skeletal abnormalities involved with Marfan syndrome.
Not everyone with Marfan syndrome exhibits every feature of the disorder. Sometimes, the features do not appear until adulthood. After the introduction and later shameful prohibition of the fast full body racing suits, a new groundbreaking technological advancement was approved by the world swimming governing body, FINA.
Phelps has inspired a generation to swim, including a few world-caliber athletes who crafted competitive schedules in Phelps’s image. OMAHA — The United States Olympic swimming trials are the spectacle that Michael Phelps built. The crowds would be far smaller than 14,000, and fewer athletes would be extending their careers past college with the help of corporate endorsements. This great athlete, though, will go on to inspire generations of future swimmers to greatness. After all—we all need something to strive for, a finish line to sprint toward, so to speak. Michael Phelps has provided that, and now that he’s stepping down, it’s time for the next generation to raise up someone equally special.
Your cardiologist will recommend any necessary lifestyle changes. A Marfan syndrome patient with an aortic aneurysm, for instance, will be advised to avoid high-intensity physical activity, any contact sport and strength training. We all know the ever so popular swim gear which is used in practices to strengthen swimming muscles such as paddles and fins, so it does not come as a big surprise that the term webbed hands and feet came into reality this year. Having a wingspan 4″ longer than height is nothing exceptional in sports. Most NFL, basketball, and combat athletes have the same or higher proportions. Jon Jones is 6’4″ with an 84″ reach (now that’s exceptional).
Long before his remarkable medal haul in Beijing, Phelps was the subject of fascination among sports scientists, psychologists and stroke technicians. A recent study found that his muscles contain just two-thirds the lactic acid of other swimmers at the end of a race, while his massive hands and size-14 feet displace water at a remarkable rate. All this is fuelled by a kilojoule intake six times the average adult male’s, and includes pizzas, pasta, sandwiches and chocolate chip pancakes. His height is 6’4″ and his arm span of 6’7″ is greater than his height. According to Cleveland Leader, “that is a ratio of 1.04, which is just shy of the clinical cutoff of 1.05. He is also said to have hypermobile joints in his knees, shoulders and ankles.” Mr. Phepls also has large hands and feet. Marfan syndrome is an inherited connective-tissue disorder which presents with tall stature, ectopia lentis, mitral valve prolapse, aortic root dilatation, and aortic dissection.
His record as the youngest male swimmer to hold a world record still stands today, and serves as just the beginning of a long string of broken world records to come. Still 15, Phelps became the youngest male swimmer to break a world record, a title previously held by none other than Thorpe, who broke his own record at age 16. His lower body is, unusually, only 5’10” long, which is proportionally shorter than the norm.
The following abnormal characteristics of his body play a big role in his extraordinary talent. Michael Phelpsnever backed off in life, both inside and outside the game. Being one of the most inspirational figures, Phelps has a good idea about how the sports world runs. His experience and achievements compelled Tajh Boyd to bring him up in the conversation. A few years ago, Tajh Boyd spoke to The Athletic about the star swimmer and how well he fits with swimming.