Michael Phelps may be an inspiration to all Americans but is truly a great role model for today's youth.  Society has been influencing today's children by giving them aspirations linked to people like Paris Hilton or Britney Spears while also promoting athletes that make millions of dollars and get arrested for various illegal activities.   Although Michale Phelps isn't the first or only athlete to become a true role model for children, his emergence comes at a time when our society's youth could really use it.

During his interviews Michale Phelps appears as a humble child from a solid family with a dedicated spirit to achieve his goals.  Michael Phelps obtained his goals the old-fashioned way - with hard work and determination.  The story of Michael Phelps can help teach today's children that success is more than having riches or material things, but instead comes from the shear joy of achieving your goals.  Of course Michael Phelps will be making a ton of money in the future and has actually already made himself a nice salary, it is likely that his modest and humble personality won't change.  The attitude that Michael Phelps has helps to teach today's youth that they must work for what they want - it isn't owed to them.

Michael Phelps seems to have superhuman qualities that are impossible to obtain by just anyone. The emphasis on the body structure of Michael Phelps leads many people that he was born to be an Olympic swimmer, and it would seem that this is true.  How many future Michael Phelps are lost because they didn't know they possessed such qualities?  The only way to find your purpose the way Michael Phelps did is to do what you do best.  For Michael Phelps it was swimming, for Michael Jordan it was basketball.  For many others it was another sport as we see can clearly on the Olympics.  

Even those that want to dispute Michael Phelps as a superhuman can't argue with the fact that he is just an all-around American guy who pursued his dreams and succeeded.  What better role model exists today other than Michael Phelps?