In the 2008 Olympics, Michael Phelps shocked the world. He was Superman in water - faster than a speeding bullet, and able to break Olympic records on a daily basis. With a stunning amount of gold medals, the press loved him.
Now, barely six months later, he’s the center of a national scandal involving a college party, a camera phone, and a British tabloid.
And, apparently, marijuana.
It is true that Phelps - Michael Phelps, Olympic great Micheal Phelps, of all people - should not have been smoking marijuana, especially when you consider the number of children who look up to him. It was a shameful and a stupid act - one that has no doubt lost him a great deal of respect amongst his many fans. This is not the type of behavior America expects from one of its greatest role models.
But the thing is, Michael Phelps never asked to be a role model, or to be America’s idol. Until the press and the Olympics came along, he was nothing more than a normal twenty-three year old who just wanted to “swim fast.” And all twenty-three years olds - all people, in fact - are not perfect. Even the most noble of us have done or said things that we have come to regret. The only problem between most of us and Phelps is that he’s not expected to. Idols are held to too-high standards - and when they crack, when they show a shred of humanity - then they are discarded, disgraced, shunned by the very people who once sung their praises. We do not expect our heroes to be human - and yet, in the end, they always are. While I do not condone drugs, I despise those who make snap judgements without any awareness of their hypocrisy.
Tags: Cynthia, Michael Phelps, Olympics
By Hannah Lawson
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