Michael Phelps famous quotes

The more you dream the more you achieve.
-- Michael Phelps

#Dream #Achieve

What does God mean to me? I guess I was made the way I am for some reason, and I've been able to find the talent I have, and I've been able to use it, so I'm grateful for that. I believe in God; [but] I'm not saying I'm highly religious.
-- Michael Phelps

#Religious #Believe #Grateful

I want to be able to look back and say, 'I've done everything I can, and I was successful.' I don't want to look back and say I should have done this or that. I'd like to change things for the younger generation of swimmers coming along.
-- Michael Phelps

#Change #Successful #Done

One thing with me, and every goal I've had - - in the sport of swimming, my mother didn't know my goals. The only person that knew my goals were my coaches.
-- Michael Phelps

#Sports #Mother #Swimming

I think goals should never be easy, they should force you to work, even if they are uncomfortable at the time.
-- Michael Phelps

#Thinking #Goal #Champion

I see my goals as personal and I always have. That's just been how I've worked.
-- Michael Phelps

#Goal

Perseverance, determination, commitment, and courage-those things are real. The desire for redemption drives you.
-- Michael Phelps

#Perseverance #Determination #Real

I think with practice, you can being whatever you want to be, and with a goal you can go in any direction that you want to go in.
-- Michael Phelps

#Thinking #Practice #Goal

You can't put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get.
-- Michael Phelps

#Inspirational #Sports #Dream

My strategy is that I actually have absolutely no strategy.
-- Michael Phelps

#Strategy

Nobody is going to put a limit on what I'm doing.
-- Michael Phelps

#Limits

I have the opportunity to be part of swimming history. To take the sport to a new level would be an honor for me. There's no better time to try this than now.
-- Michael Phelps

#Sports #Swimming #Opportunity

Swimming is more than a once-every-four-years sport. My goal is to bring attention to swimming - to give it some personality.
-- Michael Phelps

#Sports #Swimming #Years

I have reached a place in my life where I need to sit down and say, 'Well, what do I do? What's best for me?' I need to look into options for the future.
-- Michael Phelps

#Sports #Swimming #Looks

I want to test my maximum and see how much I can do. And I want to change the world of swimming.
-- Michael Phelps

#Change #Swimming #Want

I feel most at home in the water. I disappear. That's where I belong.
-- Michael Phelps

#Home #Water #Disappear

So many people along the way,whatever it is you aspire to do, will tell you it can't be done. But it all it takes is imagination. You dream. You plan. You reach. There will be obstacles. There will doubters. There will be mistakes. But with hard work, with belief, with confidence and trust in yourself and those around you, there no limits,
-- Michael Phelps

#Dream #Mistake #Hard Work

I think that everything is possible as long as you put your mind to it and you put the work and time into it. I think your mind really controls everything.
-- Michael Phelps

#Motivational #Fitness #Swimming

The one thing that's common to all successful people: They make a habit of doing things that unsuccessful people don't like to do.
-- Michael Phelps

#Success #People #Inspire

If you say "can't" you're restricting what you can do or ever will do.
-- Michael Phelps

Records are always made to be broken no matter what they are. Anybody can do anything that they set their mind to.
-- Michael Phelps

#Broken #Mind #Records

I got the stamina. I can close.
-- Michael Phelps

#Stamina

Being able to do something that's never been done before, that's what I've always wanted to do. . . . There was nothing that was going to stand in my way of being the first.
-- Michael Phelps

#Able #Way #Firsts

Before the (Olympic) trials I was doing a lot of relaxing exercises and visualization. And I think that that helped me to get a feel of what it was gonna be like when I got there. I knew that I had done everything that I could to get ready for that meet, both physically and mentally
-- Michael Phelps

#Sports #Exercise #Thinking

Being compared to Ian Thorpe, that could be one of the greatest compliments you could ever get in swimming - being compared to him and Mark Spitz.
-- Michael Phelps

#Sports #Swimming #Compliment

Nothing is impossible. With so many people saying it couldn't be done, all it takes is an imagination.
-- Michael Phelps

#Inspirational #Motivational #Success

I knew I was not a failure in any way, and so did those close to me. It doesn't matter if you fall short; it is never a failure to go after your goals with everything you've got.
-- Michael Phelps

#Fall #Goal #Matter

There will be obstacles. There will be doubters. There will be mistakes. But with hard work... THERE ARE NO LIMITS.
-- Michael Phelps

#Mistake #Hard Work #Limits

If you want to be the best, you have to do things that other people aren't willing to do.
-- Michael Phelps

#Sports #People #Champion

Dream as big as you can dream, and anything is possible.
-- Michael Phelps

#Dream #Bigs #Anything Is Possible

I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment. I'm 23 years old and despite the successes I've had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again.
-- Michael Phelps

#Sorry #Years #People

Eat, sleep and swim, that's all I can do,
-- Michael Phelps

#Sleep #Swim

I finished my career the way I wanted to.
-- Michael Phelps

#Careers #Way #Wanted

For recovery, I think it's a big deal to eat within a half-hour after you exercise. Otherwise I just try to put carbs into my system before I swim and then load up on the protein after. I don't count calories. Whether it's Sour Patch Kids or Reese's or a bag of chips, if I feel like eating it, I'm going to eat it.
-- Michael Phelps

#Recovery #Kids #Exercise

I don't want to be the next Mark Spitz; I want to be the first Michael Phelps
-- Michael Phelps

#Swimming #Firsts #Want

Other nights ... I visualize to the point that I know exactly what I want to do: dive, glide, stroke, flip, reach the wall, hit the split time to the hundredth, then swim back again for as many times as I need to finish the race.
-- Michael Phelps

#Wall #Night #Race

Things won’t go perfect. It’s all about how you adapt from those things and learn from mistakes.
-- Michael Phelps

#Mistake #Perfect #Learning From Mistakes

When I race, I don't think about it; it just happens.
-- Michael Phelps

#Sports #Thinking #Race

I love to race the best people in the world and the fastest people in the world.
-- Michael Phelps

#Race #People #World

You can't put a limit anything.
-- Michael Phelps

#Cheerleading #Limits

[Phelps] firmly denies that he takes drugs, suggesting that the notorious photo of him smoking from a bong was a one-time lapse of judgment.
-- Michael Phelps

#Weed #Smoking #Drug

Before, it came easy for me. I don't have two speeds anymore. I need to focus on the small things that I once took for granted.
-- Michael Phelps

#Two #Focus #Needs

I think to be - for me to be an American is - you know, it's one of the greatest things in the world for - you know, for me just because I've been able to grow up with everything. The freedom. You know, in my eyes this is the greatest country in the world.
-- Michael Phelps

#Country #Growing Up #Eye

People say to me, 'You're so lucky. You get to see the world.' But I don't. I go to the hotel and to the pools and back again. That's it.
-- Michael Phelps

#People #Lucky #World

I'm so sick of the water.
-- Michael Phelps

#Water #Sick #So Sick

I live a pretty conservative life, so I probably really haven't done anything crazy.
-- Michael Phelps

#Crazy #Done #Conservative

It's the Olympics. If you can't get up to swim early in the morning, don't go.
-- Michael Phelps

#Inspirational #Morning #Swim

Swimming is fun. It's a lot funner than golf.
-- Michael Phelps

#Fun #Swimming #Golf

It's not how you start, but it's how you finish.
-- Michael Phelps

I treat every race the same. We all wanted to swim fast today and give something back to the crowd.
-- Michael Phelps

#Swimming #Race #Giving

I wanted to get the fastest time in the world this year, but with everything going on, it's a pretty decent swim, ... I knew I was under world record pace. You could tell by the crowd. You can always tell at these meets when something good is going on because of the crowd.
-- Michael Phelps

#Swimming #Years #Records

When we got in the race, we knew what we had to do and knew what we wanted to do. Having three of four guys from the American record 800 free relay is a pretty solid relay, so we thought we could take a crack at the U.S. Open record tonight. We're all a little tired, but that's fifth-fastest American relay ever, so it's not a bad time. We ended tonight on a great note.
-- Michael Phelps

#Tired #Swimming #Race

We wanted to see how close we could get to the world record. We'll take that for right now.
-- Michael Phelps

#Swimming #Records #World

We're all a little tired.
-- Michael Phelps

#Tired #Swimming #Littles

I don't like to be second in anything. I was trying, I just wasn't going anywhere.
-- Michael Phelps

#Swimming #Trying

I'm satisfied in a way because this is an eye opener for me, ... I didn't have the success I've always been able to have. I learned a lot.
-- Michael Phelps

#Eye #Swimming #Way

This is the first medal I've ever won in an international meet. For it to be gold is incredible. It feels great. I can't explain it.
-- Michael Phelps

#Swimming #Gold #Firsts

It doesn't matter what else is going on. When you walk into your arena or your - whatever you excel at, you're there to take care of the job that you have to do.
-- Michael Phelps

#Jobs #Care #Matter

Coming into tonight, I knew it was going to be a great race, ... In the 400, Laszlo put up a 4:10.1 earlier in the year, and so you expect him to put up a good time in (the 200). I knew Ryan was going to be fast coming off his short course season, and he's improved a lot since Athens, so I just wanted to go out there and relax a bit and go out there and do what I had to do.
-- Michael Phelps

#Swimming #Years #Race

Anything is possible as long as you want it, you work for it. Doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, the only person that can really put pressure on you is yourself
-- Michael Phelps

#Thinking #Long #Want

I don't have a strict diet. It's all about cramming in as many calories into my system as I possibly can. To be honest with you, I have a tough time keeping weight on.
-- Michael Phelps

#Sports #Tough Times #Weight

I would visualize the best- and worst-case scenarios. Whether I get disqualified or my goggles fill up with water or I lose my goggles or I come in last, I'm ready for anything.
-- Michael Phelps

#Sports #Water #Lasts

I consider myself normal. I've spent 20 years in the pool. I consider that something that's normal.
-- Michael Phelps

#Years #Normal #Pool

I am 26 and, and I don't recover as fast as I have in the past.
-- Michael Phelps

#Past

Every day after I wake up, I think, 'Wait... this can't be real; I'm still going to wake up.'
-- Michael Phelps

#Sports #Real #Thinking

I know it won't be eight medals again. If you want to compare me to that, that's your decision, not mine. I'm going out there to try to accomplish the things that I have in my mind and in my heart.
-- Michael Phelps

#Heart #Eight #Decision

Why is it such a big deal what I'm swimming?
-- Michael Phelps

#Swimming #Bigs #Deals

Once I retire, I'm retiring. I'm done.
-- Michael Phelps

#Funny Retirement #Done #Retiring

I used to always go to church on holidays, but I don't go much any more.
-- Michael Phelps

#Holiday #Church #Used

I try to separate my personal life from swimming.
-- Michael Phelps

#Swimming #Trying #Personal Life

If I bring back only one gold people are going to say it's a disappointment. But not too many of them own an Olympic gold medal so if I get one I'm going to be happy.
-- Michael Phelps

#Disappointment #People #Gold

I believe in God; I'm not saying I'm highly religious.
-- Michael Phelps

#Religious #Believe #I Believe

I think sometimes I guess you see records, say you want to get there and use that as motivation. In a way, it's kind of cool if there is a possibility to rewrite history and be up there with the greats of Olympic history.
-- Michael Phelps

#Motivation #Thinking #Records

My goal is one Olympic gold medal. Not many people in this world can say, 'I'm an Olympic gold medalist.'
-- Michael Phelps

#Inspirational #Life #Sports

I want to go to the World Cup. I want to go to the Masters. I want to go... anywhere.
-- Michael Phelps

#Want #Cups #World

I'm the same kind of guy before all this happened.
-- Michael Phelps

#Guy #Kind

I always thought, it would be neat to make the Olympic team.
-- Michael Phelps

#Motivational #Team #Athlete

I can't remember the last day I didn't train.
-- Michael Phelps

#Champion #Lasts #Remember

I won't predict anything historic. But nothing is impossible.
-- Michael Phelps

#Motivational #Sports #Swimming

I learned how fast you can go from being an international hero to being a reference in a joke on a late night talk show.
-- Michael Phelps

#Hero #Night #Shows

I've been able to get an excitement back in the water.
-- Michael Phelps

#Water #Able #Excitement

I feel like Aaron brings out the best in me
-- Michael Phelps

#Sports #Motivational Sports #Feels

If you're not on your 'A' game in our workouts every day, you're going to get absolutely smoked.
-- Michael Phelps

#Sports #Motivational Sports #Workout

I've always been fortunate in that I've been able to put myself in my own zone and relax. It comes naturally. I'm lucky to be that way
-- Michael Phelps

#Sports #Relax #Able

I like to get in my own world. When I'm getting ready for a meet, I always have headphones on, listening to rap music to get myself fired up
-- Michael Phelps

#Sports #Rap #Listening

I always have on my headphones to block out all of the other distractions and I'm just focused on doing the best that I can.... There a few of them ... DMX Party Up ... Mack 10 BC and Ice Cube Connected for Life. I also listen to the Eminem CD ...whichever song really gets me going that night
-- Michael Phelps

#Sports #Song #Block

Yeah, my friends call me Mike, Michael or just my last name.
-- Michael Phelps

#Names #Lasts #Yeah

So, you know, if, if I wanted to get up and just play golf one day, I would just get up and play golf. If I wanted to go to Vegas, I would just get up and go to Vegas.
-- Michael Phelps

#Golf #Vegas #Play

Even in high school, I'd tell my mom I was sick of swimming and wanted to try to play golf. She wasn't too happy. She'd say, 'Think about this.' And I'd always end up getting back in the pool.
-- Michael Phelps

#Mom #School #Golf

And, you know, being able to wear the stars and stripes, when you step up on one of the blocks or, you know, when you step off of an airplane or when you hear the national anthem play, you know, it's one of the greatest feelings in the world because you know that there are people at home who are supporting you and watching you.
-- Michael Phelps

#Stars #Block #Airplane

There is a one woman in China that claimed she paid $50 to get my e-mail address. It was pretty shocking. I got one this morning from Scotland. A girl's requesting a signed photo of me.
-- Michael Phelps

#Girl #Sports #Morning

I think the biggest things I am looking forward to is getting new faces into the sport. Getting kids who could be afraid of water to feel comfortable in the pool.
-- Michael Phelps

#Sports #Kids #Thinking

I like to just think of myself as a normal person who just has a passion, has a goal and a dream and goes out and does it. And that's really how I've always lived my life.
-- Michael Phelps

#Dream #Passion #Thinking

This is my 20th year in the sport. I've known swimming and that's it. I don't want to swim past age 30; if I continue after this Olympics, and come back in 2016, I'll be 31. I'm looking forward to being able to see the other side of the fence.
-- Michael Phelps

#Birthday #Sports #Swimming

Once I'm already in my room, I still have to open a door to get into my bed. It's like a giant box. It's like the boy in a bubble.
-- Michael Phelps

#Boys #Doors #Rooms

My mom put me and my sisters in the water to feel comfortable, to have water safety.
-- Michael Phelps

#Mom #Water #Safety

It's cool just because I've had this dream of changing the sport of swimming and it's finally happening.
-- Michael Phelps

#Sports #Dream #Swimming

If I didn't swim my best, I'd think about it at school, at dinner, with my friends. It would drive me crazy.
-- Michael Phelps

#Crazy #School #Thinking

Swimming is normal for me. I'm relaxed. I'm comfortable, and I know my surroundings. It's my home.
-- Michael Phelps

#Fitness #Home #Swimming