Michael Phelps: I hope to create sensation at the 'water cube' (photos attached)

File photo: Phelps at the Athens in 2004

Competition in Beijing

At the FINA World Swimming Championship in Melbourne this year, Chinese swimmer Wu Peng lost to Phelps in the 200m butterfly. Nevertheless, Phelps has a high opinion of Wu. Phelps has competed against the Chinese swimmer many times, and feels that Wu is swimming faster and faster. Wu is a great athlete who will perform better in his home country, said Phelps.

A morning swimming final

The swimming final of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games will take place in the morning, Beijing time. This will be a challenge for Michael Phelps, who is accustomed to competing at night. However, with no choice but to accept this, the champion swimmer is trying to prepare for the change, and get his adrenaline rising in the morning.

Winning gold hasn't changed him

Although Phelps has become a big star through his swimming career, he is still an ordinary human being. At the interview he was casual and frank. Aside from meeting more people, Phelps doesn't feel that the limelight has changed his life. He is still the Michael Phelps he was before, sleeping, eating, training, watching TV, and he thinks his life is great the way it is. He doesn't want to change it.

The friendly athlete also had a message for his friends of the official website who care about and support him: "I really hope to be able to see you again," and to create a sensation at the National Aquatics Center in Beijing.