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A dejected Michael Phelps looks to the scoreboard after finishing out of the money in the Men’s 400M Individual Medley at the London 2012 Olympic Games Aquatic Center. (Photo by Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

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A dejected Michael Phelps looks to the scoreboard after finishing out of the money in the Men’s 400M Individual Medley at the London 2012 Olympic Games Aquatic Center. (Photo by Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
No matter how great of an athlete you are, records and accolades always hold sentimental value. Hence, when swimming legend Michael Phelps lost his 18 years old world record to fellow countryman Caeleb Dressel, he considered unretiring for a moment.
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The feeling of envy was evident because it was the first time since 2001 that the Baltimore Bullet didn’t hold the 100m butterfly world record. Therefore, when he heard the news, he texted coach Bob Bowman about reconsidering his retirement.
Michael Phelps was not happy when Caeleb Dressel broke his world record
First, 19-year-old Kristof Milak of Hungary broke Michael Phelps‘ record in the 200m butterfly, and a week later, it was Caeleb Dressel shattering his 100m butterfly record. Perhaps losing two consecutive world titles within a short period might have had a heavy toll on the swimming legend’s heart. Therefore, the first thing he did after he heard the news was text his coach, Bowman.

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ATHENS – AUGUST 19: Michael Phelps of USA competes in the men’s swimming 200 metre individual medley final on August 19, 2004 during the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games at the Main Pool of the Olympic Sports Complex Aquatic Centre in Athens, Greece. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
He recalls, “I sent Bob a text after the 100 fly record was broken that said, I swear to God, if my 400 I.M. record gets broken, I’ll meet you in Colorado Springs for training.” If that is the only thing keeping Phelps away from the sport, maybe the fans would pray that someone breaks his 400 I. M record soon too. Although he has achieved everything he set his mind to, a comeback now would be a tough decision to make.
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The record was in Phelps’ family for years
Perhaps the reason Michael Phelps was so sentimental about the 100m butterfly is that his family held the record for years. He said, “before I came along, it was my sister Whitney’s event. So it runs deeper than just saying, “This is my record.” That stroke has been in the Phelps family for a long time.”

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BEIJING – AUGUST 11: Michael Phelps of the United States celebrates finishing the Men’s 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay Final in first place to win the gold medal held at the National Aquatics Center on Day 3 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 11, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Well, since his sisters were pros at the butterfly stroke, it came naturally to him as well. However, that’s how it works. Time doesn’t care about emotion or sentimental values. No matter how great you are at something, someday someone better will come and break those records which were once thought to be unbreakable.
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