Trash talk is very common in sports. However, if you are going to talk trash for weeks about someone you better have more than a fancy swimsuit to back up your words. Michael Phelps proved this point of mine against Milorad Cavic in Rome recently in the World Championships.
Milorad Cavic is the swimmer Phelps beat by a fingernail in the Beijing Olympics path to eight gold medals. Cavic and many others protested that Cavic actually won the race despite photo evidence and the touchpad time. He was determined to crush Phelps in a Rome rematch and called him out publicly. Phelps refused to wear this new style swimsuit that many others are wearing which will be banned soon because of its unfair technology and advantages in the water.
Cavic was certain that he would use this new suit to crush Phelps. Knowing full well Michael would not stray from his loyalty to sponsor Speedo, Cavic tried to stir the pot by saying he would even buy Phelps one of these new suits. Phelps denied the suit and didn’t comment much about the trash talking coming from this Serbian competitor.
Coach Bowman stated that Phelps does all of his talking in the pool, and that he did. Phelps had a great start off of the podium and as expected lagged behind Cavic at the turn. Phelps made up his ground and passed Milorad right at the finish, again. It was not as close a victory as in Beijing, but it was still a close one.
Immediately, Phelps celebrated the win with a new World Record in the 100 meter butterfly. Cavic had absolutely nothing to say. All he could do was try to act with grace and congratulate Phelps. I still am trying to figure out what Cavic was thinking in angering the world’s greatest swimmer who already is competing against himself daily. Now, Cavic just gave him another and easier to beat target. So, to Cavic…HAHAHAHAHA!
My question for you is, how much faster do you think Phelps would be if he had worn this new record breaking suit?
