He had his ears flicked by kids. He had his baseball cap thrown off the bus. He had a middle school teacher tell him he'd never be successful.
Yet Michael Phelps, winner of eight gold medals in the Beijing Olympics, didn't wallow in his pain or become paralyzed by anger or fear. His Sunday interview with NBC's Bob Costas ("Phelps, Costas break down historic 8-gold run") revealed a valuable character trait. Phelps got sweet revenge by proving the bullies, the taunters and the doubters wrong with his own successes.
Not that he forgot. When a swimmer who had humiliated him verbally at a junior high meet came up to congratulate him on an Olympic win, Phelps brushed him off.
At the Beijing Olympics, when a French swimmer taunted that his relay team would "smash" the Americans, Phelps responded: "When one of the French guys was talking stuff about the 400 free relay, we use that as fuel. So, I always welcome comments, and it fires me up even more when people do say things."
Phelps will have all sorts of opportunities for commercial endorsements ahead of him, but he's really a poster child for kids who overcome bullying. His inspiring message to every kid who has ever been slighted is to get fired up, get working, get even.
And Phelps is not the only one.
Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva faced trash-talking American Jenn Stuczynski, who said, "I hope we do some damage and, you know, kick some Russian butt."
Isinbayeva took note: "I am not deaf," she said. "It made me really angry." She went on to win the Olympic gold and set a world record.
These Olympics have a welcome self-esteem message: Walk softly, prepare yourself and excel. That'll get 'em every time.
