Michael Phelps: When Age and Values Collide

The world had barely finished celebrating the start of $2009$ when photographs of Michael Phelps flooded the media outlets. Seeing photos of Phelps was nothing new. After all, he was an Olympic gold medalist who had won a record eight medals for swimming the previous summer in Beijing. But seeing Phelps smoking cannabis $($an illegal drug$)$ from a glass pipe WAS new. The image of Phelps with bong in hand was in stark contrast to his Sports Illustrated cover draped with a necklace of gold medals. The public could not believe its collective eyes. What possessed Phelps to do such a thing? What was he thinking? Didn't he realize this could destroy his Olympic career or at the very least, ruin his "hero" image?

Twenty$-$three$-$year$-$old Phelps had gotten into trouble before. At age nineteen, he received eighteen months' probation for driving while under the influence. According to published reports, Phelps had developed a reputation for partying during lulls in the swimming calendar. The night afwitnesses told reporters that Phelps

showed up at another nightclub "throwing back shots two at a time." Fellow partygoers described his behavior as "loud," "obnoxious," and "wild." This behavior differed from his rather disciplined public persona of eating, sleeping, and swimming.

Acknowledging his mistake, Phelps apologized stating, $"$I$\text{'}$m $23$ years old and despite the successes l've had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me$."$ Despite engaging in an illegal act, Phelps was neither charged with a criminal offence nor did he face any action by the United States Olympic Committee $($USOC$).$

In what ways might Generation Y$\text{'}$s "work$-$to$-$live" philosophy have contributed to Phelps' behavior?

What effect will the USOC's $($in$)$ action have on Phelps' future behavior?

SOURCE: G$.$ Dickinson, "What a Dope," News of the World $($January $2,2009).$