When are the powers to be going to put an end to the spewing of all this anger and vitriol? It certainly doesn't add anything to the class of Talk of the Villages.

Just saw an interview Michael Phelps with and Mat Lauer, he admitted to not working out as hard but started to prepare for these games year and half ago. He is not a machine he bound to have a bad race here and there. Phelps has more time invested in swimming than some of do at work, if you count training, the meets and travel. He will win a few medals and up as the most decorated Olympian, let him have fun and enjoy his last Olympics.

Just another worthless post. I usually just skip over posts from that person as they only exist to provoke. I left that behind when I retired. Course this post will probably be removed but the OP will not.

I hope it will not be removed. YOU are a person who I respect a LOT!

What place did you finish?
Just making the Olympic team is a great achievement in my book
I wouldn't dare to call any athlete on any Olympic team a looser from any country no matter where they finish!

VS, be careful not to put any athlete up on a pedestal (TT included). They are all just humans like the rest of us.

That way you won't suffer massive disappointment when they do human stuff.

Me thinks he has.....:oops:

An athlete is hardly a "loser" when he breaks the World Record in the sport's most grueling event, and holds that world record for 10 straight years, breaking and improving that record 7 different times.

See "Long Course" (50-meter pool) world record progression of 400 meter Individual Medley:

World record progression 400 metres individual medley - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Anybody who makes it to the Olympics is a WINNER. I just saw the gymnast from Ireland----had no chance to even get in the finals because of so many injuries but was just happy to be there. Michael Phelps quit training for about 2 years and did a lot party activities and maybe let all the fame go to his head. I am not surprised that he finished 4th in his first swim. He probably will medal before its over. Its an understatement that He did not handle all the publicity and fame very well following the 2008 Games. We all have "messed up" sometime. "The higher up you are---the farther you fall." GO USA!

Calling Phelps a loser is a bit harsh, and after watching only one race that he completed. There is always someone who is training harder and longer, who has a goal of accomplishing what Michael did and uses that as their motivation to push harder. I'm sure that we have not seen the last of Michael Phelps and he is only a couple of medals away from attaining an all-time record. I am routing for him. Maybe this 4th place finish is just what he needed to get the drive and desire to win back.

Go Michael!! I for one am routing for you!!!

You hate The Villages, you don't like Americans, why not move into that river and let it flow to Cuba, :BigApplause:

Wow!! Sounds like you forgot to take your meds VS.Lighten up.Who here hasn't made a mistake? Now who here has the drive to train like these athletes? Certainly not me...don't know about you but I tend to doubt it. I applaud Mr Phelps for how he's represented our country.:BigApplause:

They work hard
 

Whether he smoked pot or not...for that matter, if any athlete smoked pot and they are in The Olympics they had to work very hard to get there. Nobody's perfect forever.

Be happy, life is short!

It is still only the 2nd day on regular competition in the London Olympics. Michael Phelps could still win the Medals needed to become the most decorated Olympian.

Doubt if he is a loser in the eyes of very many Olympians. Just being an Olympian makes you a winner in the eyes of most of the world IMHO.