I saw Michael Phelps compete at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Victoria, B.C. in 2006. I am a fellow swimmer and find him, like many of his fans, inspiring to watch. Prior to this time, I had only seen him on magazine covers, talk shows, and at the 2004 Olympics. I will admit that before seeing him, I thought he was this amazingly talented swimmer who had innate talent and did not have to practice. Also, I thought because he was a celebrity he was somehow different than other swimmers. However, when seeing him in this environment, my views changed and I became even more impressed with him. I realized he works extremely hard and that all those medals are well-deserved. He is human like the rest of us. He may have the physical strength yet it is his mental strength that I admire most and makes him excel.
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