This week Michael Phelps was arrested, allegedly clocked doing 85 miles per hour in a 40 zone while twice the legal blood alcohol limit.
These very serious allegations were quickly followed up with an apology via Phelps’ Twitter account.
It’s not the first scandal Phelps has been embroiled in, nor even the first time he’s been caught driving under the influence.
In 2004 he was caught drink driving as a 19-year-old. Phelps pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and was placed on probation, as well as given community service. In 2009 a British tabloid posted a photo of him smoking a bong.
It’s easy to forgive young people for doing stupid things. After all, the stupidity of youth touches just about everyone. However, at 29 Phelps cannot plead the folly of youth.
(1/3) Earlier this morning, I was arrested and charged with DUI, excessive speeding and crossing double lane lines.
— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) September 30, 2014
(2/3) I understand the severity of my actions and take full responsibility.
— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) September 30, 2014
(3/3) I know these words may not mean much right now but I am deeply sorry to everyone I have let down.
— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) September 30, 2014
What Phelps has done is remind us of the dangers of trying to live a life outside of society.
English Renaissance poet John Donne penned the immortal line “no man is an island” in 1624. It resonates today as much as it did almost 500 years ago.
By allegedly driving under the influence, Phelps has shown a grave error in judgment. This error is not just driving when he shouldn’t have, but thinking he is an island.
Baltimore is his community. It is this community that he has let down by not following the rules society has developed for the benefit of all.
A driver’s license is a not a right, it is a privilege. Those who hold the privilege of driving are expected to abide by the laws that are designed to protect communities.
As such, the people of Baltimore have not been let down by a swimming role model. They have been let down by one of their citizens.
Society builds athletes up as role models. We forget they are human and we imbue them with the mythological qualities of gods. We deify athletes and then voyeuristically enjoy watching them fall.
But Phelps is not a god.
His achievements in the pool will not be diminished. He will always have 22 Olympic medals, of which 18 are gold. He is still the greatest Olympian of all time.
He is also very human.
The lesson here lays in the fallacy that even the greatest Olympian of all time can live outside of his society. This is the lesson of Michael Phelps’ arrest.
We have been reminded that no man (or woman) is an island. We are all responsible for our actions and we are accountable to the society we live in.
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