Olympic sensation Michael Phelps may have retired from swimming in London at the 2012 Olympics, www.london2012.com, but a new sports career is beckoning.
Phelps – with a haul of 22 Olympic medals – is one of those Midas touch sportsmen with everything he touches turning to gold.
His latest triumph was pairing for a celebrity doubles at a golf tournament in St Andrew’s where after telling the world he would focus on his new sport, showed he has an eye for the game like a sniper by sinking an astounding 150 foot putt.
Most people would doubt his prowess – but the stroke was captured on video.
The drama did not step there as Phelps was partnered with Englishman Paul Casey, was lining up a modest 20-foot putt of his own when a dog wandered on to the green, picked up the ball and sloped off with it.
Splashing out with a swim in London
Although Phelps has left the pool for the green, his superlative performances, along with those of other London Olympic swimmers has encouraged many to make a splash.
Pools in London have experienced a popular renaissance following the British summer of sport, with swimmers young and old taking a dip for fun and competition.
Besides the Olympic 2012 pool and the iconic 50 metre international event pool at London’s Crystal Palace, the capital has around a hundred pools, and even more if you add in open-air lidos.
Some pools offer extras besides a swim and a coffee bar –
- Ironmonger Row Baths in the East End have a public laundry and Turkish baths, complete with a steam room, hot rooms, a freezing plunge pool, and marble slabs for body scrubs and massages.
- Canary Riverside has infinity windows giving the impression that the pool extends outside in to the River Thames
Different strokes
“Swimming in London does not have to be a chore, but can be real fun if you know where to go,” said Lucy of Swim London.
“Like they say, it’s different strokes for different folks, and London’s great range of indoor and outdoor pools ranging from Olympic 2012 showcases to an icy dip in The Serpentine at Christmas and New Year can provide just about everything anyone could want from a swim.
“Few will ever equal the amazing achievements of someone like Michael Phelps, but anyone can jump in the pool and have a go and get fit at the same time.”
False start
Reports from hotels, taxi drivers, shops and restaurants say that they didn’t see an increase in business but more of a decline during the Olympics.
With over a month since its end, news is appearing that business has never been better. With a large increase in people taking up sports of all kinds.
It looks like the 2012 Olympics was just a false start for businesses.
