Michael Phelps' Marijuana Fiasco
Can He Regain his Status as a Role Model?
Michael Phelps’marijuana smoking incident has shattered his hero status. The media repeatedly published the photograph of him at the party in South Carolina, and there are countless news reports and editorials about it. Can parents use this incident as a positive force in teaching children about consequences for irresponsible behavior?
Michael Phelps Has Been a Strong Role Model for Years
Children all over the world look up to athletes as people to emulate. This can be a heavy honor to live up to for an athlete. Michael Phelps took this honor and swam with it.
The swimming champion worked with a strong focus, trained for hours every day, stayed close to his family, and became the first person ever to achieve eight gold medals in one Olympics. He also holds status for winning a total of fourteen Olympic gold medals; the most for any athlete.
After receiving his Speedo endorsement, he used some of that money to create a charity foundation promoting water safety and aquatics for children, named the Michael Phelps Foundation.
Ramifications of Michael Phelps’ Marijuana Smoking
In addition to the public outrage and disappointment over the marijuana smoking, Michael faces some serious consequences for his indiscretion.
- Kellogg has stated they will not renew his contract when it expires in 2009. This alone will translate into millions of dollars lost in endorsements.
- Michael was suspended for three months from USA swimming, and he lost a stipend of $1,750 per month. His teammates will swim without him.
- Subway opted for censure but not discontinuance of his contract, while Speedo, Omega, and Visa did not take disciplinary action against him.
- He may face charges in South Carolina for possession of an illegal drug.
Will Michael Phelps Recover From This Mistake?
The media has used this incident to bring once again to the public focus the argument about the pros and cons of marijuana use. However, for the children who look up to Michael Phelps, that is not the issue. What is at stake for them is whether he will rise again as their hero.
In today’s media, where everyone’s mistakes are broadcast for the entire world to see, even very young children understand that no one is perfect. They realize that everyone makes mistakes. How Michael handles this mistake is what will really determine if he is worthy of being a role model.
He made a public apology, acknowledging that his actions were inappropriate, and he vowed to work hard to regain the public’s trust. This is a good opportunity for parents and the media to focus on what he does to regain that trust. How he conducts himself from this point forward can be a test of character.
This is not to say that making a mistake like the one Michael did is alright. However, it can be a lesson in learning that a mistake does not have to be the end of everything a person has worked for. It can be an opportunity to change and grow. Perhaps if Michael Phelps is able to do that, he will once again be a role model and hero for young people around the world.
Update on February 16, 2009
According to CNN, Michael Phelps will not face criminal charges. Michael stated that he is grateful for the support of family and friends, and is eager to put this behind him and get back into training. CNN also reported that in a written statement, Michael said he had learned an important lesson and would not make this mistake again.
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