1. What does it take to be an elite athlete?
Athletes name: Michael Phelps
Sport he plays: Swimming
Background: American
Born: June 30th 1985, (aged 27) Baltimore Maryland.
Events from childhood that led to their success:
1. Michael began swimming in a local swimming centre.
2. Michael started to dream of becoming a swimming athlete.
3. He launched a swimming career at the “North Baltimore Aquatic Club” at the Meadowbrook
Aquatic and fitness centre.
4. Michael’s coach recognised him and put him in competitions and began more training.
5. By 1999, Michael had made the U.S National B team.
6. Michael became the youngest male swimmer at the 2000 summer Olympics.
Family and friends that have impacted on his life:
His family: Fred and Debbie Phelps and his younger sisters, Whitney and Hilary helped support him
in his journey.
Coach: Michaels coach helped and supported him a lot because he trained him and taught him, he
also taught Michael to the best that he can be.
In what way does Michael Phelps show the elements of wellbeing?
1. Michael is mentally wall when he is well and good to play the sport. Also when he is trying
hard in the sport.
2. Michael is socially well when he talks to his audience with confidence.
3. Michael shows the element of emotion when he was going to retire, he was sad but his
family and himself were still happy about what he had done in his career.
4. He shows the element of spirit when he is a team player and believes in himself.
5. Michael is physically well when he isn’t sick, but healthy and he is well enough to play the
sport.
Training Program:
How often does Michael train?
Michael trains 6 hours a day, 6 days a week. He swims 50 miles each week.

2. What types of training does Michael do?
Michael does some exercises called the standing dumbbell press, dumbbell front raise, dumbbell
lateral shoulder raise and flexibility training. (For better swimming.)
Diet:
How does Michael maintain his diet?
Michael Phelps eats and drinks about 12,000 calories a day. Michael’s normal breakfast would eat 3
fried egg sandwiches with cheese, lettuce, tomato, fried onions and mayonnaise. He also eats a
toast, an omelette, porridge, 3 pancakes and 2 cups of coffee. Of course Michael doesn’t eat this all
at one he spreads it out, he eats some before and after training and during practices. For lunch
Michael would eat 500 grams of Pasta with 2 ham and cheese sandwiches and energy drinks. For his
dinner he eats more pasta , pizza and more energy drinks.
Influences:
Who drew Michael to sport?
The people that drew Michael to sport was his sisters: Whitney and Hilary. They both joined a
swimming program and convinced Michael to join.
Tom Malchow and Tom Dolan drew Michael Phelps to sport because they were competing at the
1996 summer games in Atlanta. Michael started to dream about becoming a professional swimming
champion.
Who keeps Michael motivated?
The most important people that Michael motivated are his family because they support him in every
step he takes.
Rules to the sport: Swimming.
Equipment used:
Goggles, lap cards, starting blocks, swimming caps, swim suites/bathers and touch pads.
What they wear:
Swimmers have a swim suit or bathers that they wear to swim in the pools.
Rules to the sport:

3. There are load of different strokes in swimming, some of them are backstroke, breast stroke,
freestyle and butterfly. Michael Phelps 1st stroke to master was backstroke so I will explain that one.
To start the race you stand on the start blocks. Once you hear GO you jump in. You must stay in your
lane. You swim on your back and take your arms back while you push the water down. You do all of
this while you are kicking your legs.
Once you get the touch board you touch it with your hands and does a tumble turn in the water, you
go back doing the same thing. The 1st person to touch the touch board on the other side wins.
Past achievements:
Michael’s achievements so far in his career would be getting into the Olympics in 2000; another
would be setting a world record in the 200m butterfly stroke. Then breaking his record again in
Japan.
Shortly after Michael graduated in 2003 he set 5 world records which included the 200m swim at the
world championship in Barcelona.
Challenges in Michael’s career?
A challenge that Michael had to face in his career was that as a kid he had ADHD, and another
challenge he has to face is that he has asthma.
What medals has Michael won in the Olympics and what strikes were they?
Michael has won 22 medals in his career, after the Olympics in London (2012) Michael will be
retiring. So he will not receive any more medals but in his past Olympics he has won 14 gold and 2
bronze medals in the 2004 and the 2008 Olympics. In his final Olympics on London Michael has got 6
last medals: 4 gold and 2 silver.
When did Michael decide to become a swimmer?
Michael decided to become a swimmer when he joined a local swimming team with his sisters
Hillary and Whitney. He launched his swimming career at the Loyal High School pool. When Michael
met his coach Bob Bowman he recognized Michael and put him into competitions. He them made it
to the National U.S B team.
What records does Michael hold?
At the end of the 2008 Olympics Michael Phelps held 7 world records and 1 Olympic record. These
records are:

4. 1. 400m individually medley 4:03:84
2. 4x100m freestyle relay 3:08:24
3. 200m butterfly relay 1:52:03
4. 200m freestyle relay 1:42:96
5. 200m freestyle relay 6:58:56
6. 4x100 individually medley 1:54:24
7. 4x100 in medley relays 3:29:34
And Michael’s Olympic record is:
1. 100m butterfly 50:58
What is a balanced diet?
Choosing a balanced diet is choosing a variety of foods and drinks from all of the food groups. This
also means eating certain types of foods at different times. (Eating things in moderation.)
Naming:
Saturated fat
Trans fat
Cholesterol
Refined sugar
Salt and
Alcohol.
There are 2 eating patterns in having a balanced diet they are the food pyramid or the new food plat
and the diet approach.
Both of these patterns include:
Fruit
Vegetables
Whole grain
Low fat or no fat dairy products
meats
Fish (should be eaten 2 times a week.)
beans
nuts and seeds
Unsaturated fat like olive oil.
What is an unbalanced diet?

5. An unbalanced diet can cause problems with your body tissue4s ,like growth and development, brain
and nervous system functions and problems with your bones and mussel system. With all of these
problems you won’t have the energy you need to work and play!
An unbalanced diet is the complete opposite to a balanced diet! That means you don’t the least
amount of food you need from each food group every day! It can also be an unbalanced diet when
you have too much or to less of different of food groups every day.
An unbalanced diet is food that has too much processed carbohydrates.
If you have an unbalanced diet you will be physically affected, emotionally, mentally and socially.
One of the main effects of an unbalanced diet is losing or gaining weight. An unbalanced diet can
also cause osteoporosis which makes the bones weak and feel like they’ve been drained.
How can you get a balanced diet?
To get a balanced diet you need to eat enough food every day and follow the food pyramid and the
food plate. This will help you get the right amount of food you need. The food plate includes:
Vegetables
Fruits
Grains
Protein
And a side of dairy.
If you eat the right amount of food every day you will become fit, healthy and have enough energy
to work and play.
When you have a balanced diet you need to control your eating habits and follow the food pyramid
or the food plate. Doing that can help you stay on track with your diet.
Having a balanced diet can help recover problems in your body and help you to not get those
problems. They include:
Growth and development issues
Problems with your brain, bones, nervous system and your muscles.
And energy.
How can you keep a balanced diet?
Developing a balanced diet isn’t that hard or confusing. It’s easy! The 1st thing you need to do is eat a
big variety of different food from different food groups. This is very important because different
things types of foods can help you with different thing.

6. Fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes are high on carbohydrates, fibre, vitamins and minerals. They
are also low in fat and free of cholesterol. Eating these things can help you have a better balanced
diet.
To keep a balanced diet you should also eat food that your body can break down if you don’t do this
you can gain weight.
Follow these steps for a healthy diet:
Eat plenty of high fibre foods which are fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grain.
Cut down your sugary and fatty foods.
Cut down on animal fats, Trans fat, and eat more fish and nuts.
Eat a variety of foods and try to get as much vitamins and minerals as possible.
Maintain your weight and balance your diet.