[Student Reporters] Michael Phelps: Is He a Dope?

Min-Woo Park / 9th. Palos verdes Peninsula Hig

On February 1 the British tabloid "News of the World" published a picture of Michael Phelps smoking marijuana at a party at the University of South Carolina in November. The rush of consequences came shortly thereafter.

First Kellogg's stopped its endorsement deal with Michael Phelps saying that his "most recent behavior is not consistent with the image of Kellogg's." Then just hours after Kellogg's public withdrawal USA Swimming the national organization for competitive swimming banned Michael from competition for three months. Later Subway announced that a new marketing strategy using Phelps might be delayed in light of the recent events. Finally Phelps told the "Baltimore Sun" that he might not even participate in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. But it doesn't stop there. Most importantly Phelps has lost the respect of plenty of shocked fans and adorers. USA Swimming stated "He disappointed so many people particularly the hundred's of thousands of USA Swimming-member kids who look up to him as a role model and a hero." On top of all this he may be facing criminal charges for using an illegal drug. That's quite a whirlwind of news.

Why in the world would such an esteemed athlete and role model willingly do something that would inevitably produce unwanted results? Unfortunately this is not the first time Phelps has partaken in an illegal activity. After the 2004 Athens Olympics Phelps was arrested for driving under the influence. He immediately released a public statement portraying his regret for his actions. He expressed his understanding of his own naive nature and asked for forgiveness. Four years later it seems as if Phelps's is just spitting out the same old pleading-for-forgiveness speech that seemed to work smoothly in 2004. On the same day the picture was published Michael Phelps's said "I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment. I'm 23 year old and despite the successes I have had in the pool I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way not in a manner that people have come to expect from me." He went on to say that he was sorry and that he promises "it will not happen again." But again the real question now is why did he smoke marijuana in the first place?

Some believe that it was the pressure that did Michael in. After hundreds of grueling practices during the four years between Athens and Beijing Phelps may have needed a means to loosen up and relax. When a single person is under much pressure to exceed outrageously high expectations one may be driven to extremes that he or she would normally never take. It could have been the massive attention and celebrity treatment that led the Boy Wonder to give in a little too much. Or Phelps's actions could simply have been the result of being a young adult who is still growing and maturing. Then how should the public respond to this?

I think I speak on behalf of athletes world over both amateur and professional when I say this: Leave him alone. We have all made mistakes before and have been guilty of doing something that is thoughtless and rash. Sure Michael made a big mistake. However I as a fellow swimmer and athlete can understand how hard it is to consistently practice and perform at such a high level. We should have the heart to forgive the young man.