It might sound effortless to reach the elite level, but in reality, one must endure pain and make sacrifices for that. In the same vein, Michael Phelps had his share of difficulties on the way. Nevertheless, giving up is non-existent in his dictionary. The legend’s personality and dedication to the sport made him an inspirational swimming icon.

Not only his fans but many big names, sportspersons, and celebrities admire him. Two years back, a bodybuilder once tried to follow Phelps’ routine for a day.

Is it possible to swim for 5 hours?

A day in Michael Phelps’ life includes 7000 calories and five hours of swimming. Astonishing right? Well, it was an easy-breezy task for the athlete to follow that, given his athletic physique.

Although bodybuilding also follows a diet chart and involves strenuous exercises, it is different from swimming. In 2020, Zac Perna, a bodybuilding enthusiast, and a YouTuber shot a video where he copied a day from Michael Phelps’ life.

It was a sunny day. Nevertheless, when he put his foot in the water, he couldn’t help saying, “Icy”. It was 9:00 in the morning, and the temperature of the water was 10 degree Celsius. After ten laps, it became difficult for Zac to continue swimming in the freezing water.

“I literally thought I might actually die,” said the muscle man. “If I kept going, I probably would’ve died.”

After having breakfast, Zac decided to get himself a wetsuit. He didn’t want to give up the challenge, so he picked for himself, and so getting a wetsuit was the best option. “I didn’t expect this,” he continued. “I didn’t expect to actually feel like I was gonna have a heart attack mid-water.”

READ MORE: Swimming Legend Michael Phelps Was Subject to a Trivia Contest That Picked Who Would Take Him as a Date to Senior Prom in School

Although Zac didn’t perfectly do the laps and wasn’t able to move his arms properly, he did try his best. Moreover, Michael Phelps didn’t take up the routine in a single day. It takes time, and it’s a gradual process.

Michael Phelps in the gym

Even after retiring, Michael Phelps didn’t stop hitting the gym. His physique is intact as it was back during his dominating era. Not long ago, the athlete posted a reel doing the Zurcher Squats.

The caption read, “Lfg keendog!! The zurcher squat….. Feeling good!!! Cant stop WONT stop! #ironparadise”

Watch This Story: Michael Phelps’ long torso leaves fans shocked as his image with 4’11 ft tall gymnasts resurfaces

Fans and followers filled the comment section with appreciation. The video motivated them to stay fit and stay healthy.