Michael Phelps: 8 Gold Medals, 1 Mindset

Today’s athlete in focus is Michael Phelps. He is the Olympic athlete with the most Olympic medals, having won 28 in total, of which 23 are gold. Additionally, he was the first athlete to win 8 gold medals in a single Olympics.

He is definitely among the greatest athletes of all time. His approach to training, pain, and discipline holds lessons for every athlete, whether you’re in the pool or not.

In this edition:

•  Why Phelps’ preparation made race day the easy part.

• The small choices that separate gold medalists from everyone else.

• His ultimate lesson for YOU as an athlete

— Paco Raven, Editor & Founder

Dream. Plan. Reach.

At 11 years old, Michael Phelps wrote down his goals. First, he wrote, "I want to win a gold medal." But then, doubt crept in. He scratched it out and wrote something smaller: "I want to make the Olympics."

Then, at the bottom of the page, he wrote the plan: "I will accomplish these goals by concentrating, working hard, and coming to every practice."

That mindset never changed. Phelps wasn’t just dreaming—he was plotting the exact steps to get there. He wasn’t focused on rivals, medals, or fame. He was focused on time. Getting just a little faster, a little sharper, every single day.

Most athletes have dreams. Few have plans. And even fewer execute them with relentless consistency.

So ask yourself—what’s your goal? And more importantly, do you have a plan to get there?

From Rock Bottom to Redemption

Michael Phelps had everything—Olympic records, gold medals, and worldwide fame. But outside the pool, he was drowning.

After the 2012 Olympics, he hit rock bottom. Years of pressure, expectations, and internal battles took their toll. He isolated himself, battled depression, and questioned if life was even worth living.

It wasn’t until he asked for help that things changed. He opened up, faced his struggles, and came back stronger.

By the time Rio 2016 came around, he wasn’t just swimming for medals—he was swimming for himself. And he won five more golds.

Every athlete faces dark moments. It’s not about avoiding them—it’s about getting back up. Because the comeback always starts with a choice: stay down or fight back.

Which one will you make?

The Work Wins the Race

Most people think the race is won in the moment. The final sprint, the last stroke, the big play. Phelps saw it differently. By the time he stepped onto the blocks, the work was already done.

He trained every single day for five years straight—no off days, no excuses. Even on Christmas, even on his birthday.

While his competitors were taking rest days, he was in the pool, adding up tiny advantages. Those extra strokes, those extra meters—stacking up over years—became the gap between first and second.

It’s easy to get caught up in game day. But champions don’t just show up and hope for the best. They put in so much work that winning becomes automatic.

Next time you’re about to compete, ask yourself: Did you already win in training?

This is probably the most famous quote from Michael Phelps. The quote exactly describes who he is as a person and an athlete. He was willing to do what other people wouldn’t do.

This is the reason he achieved things that other people wouldn’t achieve.

While others took breaks, he trained every single day for five years—swimming 365 days a year, even on Christmas, even on his birthday. While others made excuses, he found ways to get better.

And that’s the real difference. It wasn’t just talent, genetics, or luck. It was the work.

Most athletes train hard when it’s convenient. Champions train when no one else will.

So ask yourself: Are you doing what others won’t? Or are you just hoping for the same results as those who do?

Thank you for reading.

Next Monday, we will be back with a new Q&A edition. In the meantime, on Thursday, you can expect a new edition of the Insider Playbook.

Have a question of your own? We’d love to hear it! Just send it to [email protected], and you might see it featured here in a future edition.

And if you missed last Monday's Q&A edition on mental focus during important games/races, read it here.

Until next week,
Paco Raven, Editor & Founder
The Stoiclete