Michael Phelps the Poker Player

For anyone who has watched the Olympics coverage or read about it has certainly heard about Michael Phelps. Phelps is the American swimmer who recently bested Mark Spitz’s record for both overall gold medals and the most gold medals in one Olympics. To train for his amazing total of 17 swims Phelps spent countless hours in the pool refining his technique, practicing, conditioning, and watching video of his likely competition. He trained with the best swimmers America had to offer to push himself and his teammates to be better. In other words, Phelps trained like a champion to be a champion. Just imagine how good Phelps can be at any other venture he tries. For poker fans, they may get to seem him next year instead of in four years at the next Olympics.

Phelps loves competition. He has made no secret of the fact that he simply likes to win. As a former student at the University of Michigan where he was the star swimmer, he was located next to casinos in Detroit and Windsor, Canada. Phelps himself said that in his off time he would travel across the border to play poker at Casino Windsor. In a recent interview with the Baltimore Sun Phelps stated he wanted to take a shot at next year’s World Series of Poker. Since Phelps must already have at least a basic or intermediate level of poker skill just imagine what he could do if he trained and practiced in preparation for the World Series of Poker. If I was at his table I certainly would be intimidated by his star power alone, not to mention his ability which would surely improve over the next 10 months or so.

The bidding war for Phelps to wear the various poker rooms swag will probably be fast and furious. Any poker room would be thrilled to have him wearing their patch at the World Series of Poker. The airtime alone that ESPN would devote to Phelps would more than pay for itself, not to mention the other media outlet mentions and coverage. One thing is for sure and that is Phelps has a champion’s mentality and hates to lose. I would not count him out from any competition he is a part of.