Michael Phelps could ride his wave of success solely for financial gain. The 23-year-old with 14 Olympic gold medals to his name, including a record eight in Beijing this summer, could enjoy the fruits of corporate sponsorships and leave it at that. No one could fault him for it.
Instead, he and his coach, Bob Bowman, hope to turn Baltimore into a swimming mecca.
He told NBC’s Brian Williams that his goal is “to change the sport of swimming.” Good for us.
He and Bowman formed a company, Aquatic Ventures LLC, which recently purchased Meadowbrook Aquatic Center in Mount Washington. The duo plans to expand its community programs and make it a premiere training ground for elite swimmers.
He did not have to come home to a place and a culture where lacrosse reigns and swimming follows at a distant third or fourth place. But through his and Bowman’s efforts, other children will learn that hard work, perseverance and desire will lead to success. In the new President-elect Barack Obama children can see those same traits. But Baltimore could use more homegrown examples of how dedication to one’s dreams pays off.
We wish him the same startling success he achieved this summer at the Olympics. If he commands even a portion of soccer megastar David Beckham’s draw, little children will beg their parents to try swimming. That means the seven Olympians Meadowbrook has already turned out since 1968 could multiply exponentially. That’s good for the swimmers, America’s chances at the next Olympics, and for all of us in Baltimore who can both take pride in our neighbors’ accomplishments and be inspired by their achievement.
