The legendary swimmer Michael Phelps marched far away from his contemporaries by winning 28 Olympic medals. That is the most in the history of the games. His enormous 80 inches wingspan and 193-centimeter height make him an absolute beast. However, Phelps’ body attributes have always been a topic of discussion among critics.

The majority of the time, Phelps would march out victorious from his events. His prowess was such that every time he would step into the arena, all eyes would be on the time board, hoping for a new record. Many deemed that Phelps had a physical advantage over his contemporaries owing to his enormous wingspan. His former team physician gave an interview which could probably put an end to the discussion.

Did Michael Phelps have an edge over others?

As soon as a new face emerges to be taking over a sport, people give their opinions in no time. Something similar happened with Michael Phelps. The legendary swimmer has been on the radar of several critics since he made his Olympic debut at the Sydney Olympics. They claimed he had a slight edge over other competitors in the sport. It was believed his massive wingspan, compared to his shorter-than-expected legs, made him swim faster.

His former team physician, H. Richard Weiner spoke to Scientific American and answered regarding the same. ” So we’ve been hearing how Phelps has a long torso with shorter-than-expected legs and how that gives him a powerful push when he turns off the wall. There’s a problem here.”

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Debunking things, he said, “If two fellows of the same height are trying to turn [off the wall after a lap in the pool], the guy with the longer legs will hit the wall from farther away and should also have the better kick going back the other way.”

What led to Michael’s success? 

Michael Phelps is famous across the globe for his incredible performances in the pool. However, the reason behind his success is the hard work, dedication, and sacrifice that he had put in behind the scenes. The work done behind the scenes is rarely talked about. Phelps trained for five years straight without a day off. It is often believed that discipline separates mediocrity and greatness.

Michael’s coach, Bob Bowman, who trained him since he was 11, turned him into a complete disciplinarian. Throughout the years, Phelps worked immensely on his swimming technique to compete against the best. According to his former team physician, Phelps had remarkable stroke mechanics. Incredible locomotive mechanical methods helped him paddle through the water more efficiently.

WATCH THIS STORY: Resurfaced video shows Michael Phelps Race of the century with Ian Thorpe, Pieter Van Den Hoogenband’s at 2004 Athens Olympics