I think everyone should leave him alone. I highly doubt he smokes pot on a regular basis. It really should not have anything to do with his athletic career. If he was on steroids or other performance enhancing drug, that would be a big deal. But if you have ever met a pothead in your life, you know that marijuana is NOT a performance enhancing drug. It slows reaction time, and common side effects include taking lots of naps, laying on couches and watching tv, and ordering pizzas. This drug does not give him any kind of advantage in his sport. If anyone should be pissed off at him, it is his coach.
Actually, given the nature of the drug, I say that if an athlete is successful and smokes marijuana, they should get extra points. I mean, that's impressive. Again, I really doubt that Phelps makes a habit of such behaviors. I have a feeling that the best swimmer on earth probably takes better care of his lungs than that. So leave the guy alone. Let him be a 23 year old.
There is an argument to be made that children all over the world look up to him as a role model, and that he therefore has a responsibility to behave like a role model and not set a bad example. That there are kids who feel disappointed in their hero for screwing up and doing something bad. Well. OK. This is somewhat valid, but Welcome to Life. People are going to disappoint you. You shouldn't idolize anyone, it will always lead to disappointment. You have to learn some time... Even though Michael Phelps seems somewhat super-human when you watch him swim, he is human. It's not fair to expect him to live a perfect life and never to screw up. It's not fair to expect that from anyone.
Imagine if your life was constantly being put on display in newspapers and magazines, and on tv and the internet. How would the world see you?
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