CROWN: On your website it says you sometimes eat3000 calories at breakfast. What do you eat?

MICHAEL: I eat pancakes, eggs, a breakfast sandwichand drink chocolate milk.

CROWN: What do you think about when you’reswimming?

MICHAEL: I think about the last song that was on my iPod.

CROWN: What’s the best thing about being in thewater?

MICHAEL: I feel very natural in the water.

CROWN: What’s the worst thing about spending somuch time in the water?

MICHAEL: It stinks1 if the water is cold.

CROWN: Is it true that you have very big feet? Where do you get your shoes?

MICHAEL: My feet are about size 47. I wear sandals all the time.

CROWN: What things do you do before a race?

MICHAEL: I listen to my iPod player before I swim. A song on my list now is Hate it or Love it byThe Game.

CROWN: When you were a small boy, you were scaredof putting your face in the water. How did youget over* this?

MICHAEL: I started by swimming on my back. Then Ilearned breaststroke.

CROWN: What’s your advice for future Olympicswimmers?

MICHAEL: To do your best you need to train your best.Always give 100 percent and never give up*.

CROWN: Why did you decide to write your bookBeneath the Surface?

MICHAEL: I wanted to share my amazing experiences.People ask me everyday how I stay motivated*and successful in the Games. I hope this bookmotivates* others to go for their dreams.

Michael Phelps is the world’s number 1swimmer. CROWNtalked to him about hisbig breakfast, his bigbook and his big feet ...

CROWN InterviewEXCLUSIVE Michael Phelps

4 CROWN NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2005

1 = It stinks! American English slang meaning it’s bad. Example: you have two maths exams? That stinks!

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Relative pronoun:thatSPORTS STARS

Nickname: Iron MikeBirthday: June 30, 1985Family: Two sisters, Whitney and HilaryHeight: 1.93 metresGreatest moment: Winning eightmedals (six gold, two bronze) at the 2004 Olympics

Words to get over something – surmonter quelque chose – superare – über etwas hinwegkommen – ergensoverheen komen – rozwiązywać problem, pokonać cośto give up – laisser tomber – cedere – aufgeben – opgeven – poddać sięmotivated – motivé – motivato – motiviert – gemotiveerd – majacy (silną) motywacjęto motivate – motiver – motivare – motivieren – motiveren/aanzetten – dostarczać pobudek, motywować

*

1 It’s something that I wear on my head.

2 It’s something that I dry myself with.

3They’re the things that I wear on my eyes.

4 It’s something that I listen to before I swim.

5 They’re the clothes that I wear in the water.

What’s in Michael’s bag?

The answers are on page 14.

Here are some of the things that Michael takes in his bagwhen he goes swimming. Match them to their definitions.

swimming capa

gogglesdswimming

trunksb

towele

MICHAEL PHELPS FACTS

iPodc

Describe 3 things in yourbag. Use the pronoun that.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2005 CROWN 5

www.michaelphelps.com

What’s in your bag?

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