What Music Gets Michael Phelps Amped? Olympian’s Warmup Playlist Includes Eminem And Eric Church

You may not have heard, but Michael Phelps is pretty good. All he did on Thursday is beat a record that has been around for 2,160 years. The all-time great swimmer earned his 22nd Olympic gold medal of his legendary career when he won the 200-meter individual medley. That win gave Phelps his 13th individual victory of his Olympics career, breaking the record of Leonidas of Rhodes, a runner from ancient Greece who competed between 164 and 152 BC. So after all this winning, what gets Phelps amped to compete year after year after year? There is national pride, fame, fortune, personal motivation and Eminem.

When you see Phelps mentally preparing himself for his race (And giving his death stare) and has his headphones what is he listening to? The “Baltimore Bullet” pumps some hip-hop and country music. The New York Times reported that his pre-race playlist is a “mix of songs from Eminem, Young Jeezy and a more recent addition, Eric Church.”


Based on Phelps’ rage-filled face I would have to assume that he is getting hyped by listening to “Til I Collapse.”

Recently, the USA swimming team did their own version of James Corden’s “Carpool Karaoke” and Phelps took the wheel and showed his appreciation for country music and sang “Chicken Fried” by Zac Brown Band.

Back in 2005, Phelps told the Guardian that he likes Eminem, Dr Dre and Notorious BIG. “While I’m swimmin’ in ya women like the breast stroke! Right stroke, left stroke was the best stroke!”

Phelps went to a Snoop Dogg show that year and met the rapper the Game backstage, but did not get to meet Snoop.

Rolling Stone asked Phelps what his warm-up music was in 2012 and the playlist included “I’m Me” and “Right Above It” by Lil Wayne, “No Beef” by Afrojack, Steve Aoki, “Go Getta” by Young Jeezy, and “Levels” by Avicii. “Swimming a multiple-event program requires you to conserve and manage emotional and physical energy, so you’ve got the goods when you need it most. It’s all about levels,” Phelps said.

Michael Phelps, after winning your 22nd gold medal, I think you deserve a drink in your hand.

[Uproxx]

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