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Aug/25/2008
The Greatest Olympian
Michael Phelps is at the age of twenty three all ready the most winning Olympian of all times. Eight gold medals in Beijing and six in the previous games in Athens, sets him apart from any other athlete. The amount of exercise and persistence he must have had to reach his goal is not what fascinates me. This is not what makes him unique.
To me, Phelps is a symbol on mankind's ever increasing need for diversity. Put it short; Phelps is a freak Monkey arms, feet that can be whipped as fins, ADHD and a calorie usage five times that of normal person, would seem like esthetical, social and nutritional disadvantages.
Although I do not know Phelps in detail, I think it would be a fair guess to assume these abnormalities have been difficult for him. I believe he has always felt like the time in the water is kind of therapy to him and a place he feels like he belongs to - a safe haven from his problems. I may have used too strong words here, but still, it would make sense if he has some other, stronger, motivation than his competitors.
Anyways, Phelps' greatness would never have reached the surface if it had not been for the advanced level of our society. For one, his extreme appetite would have been an evolutionary mistake until these recent times of surplus food production. Second, he is an entertainer and he makes millions of dollars on it. The entertainment is sports, more precisely swimming, and here we can see that abnormalities are indirectly encouraged (directly it is the minimization of time to swim x meters.)
What Phelps symbolizes is how our society rewards smaller and smaller niches, and how physical and mental rarities will increasingly be a benefit rather than a curse for the person whom beholds them.
Since you read this text, chances are that you are a stock trader. If you are really dedicated, it logically follows that you are not normal.
1 You are poor (but like to gamble)
2 You are on your way up (and actually can stand working with numbers, not people, all day)
3 You are rich (so why so into the market and not normal socializing? [a strong form, and later stage, of #2] )
For all of you #2's and the few #3's out there, sit down for a minute and reflect on how lucky you are to live today in the free world. The #1's however, should also sit down, but I'm sorry, I cannot tell what to think and how to reflect.
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