It is hard to imagine world champion swimmer Michael Phelps as a teenager who is still waiting for his learner’s license and his first Olympic Gold.
In light of Phelps winning his 21st Olympic gold in Rio, CBS Baltimore dug out an old interview with teenage Phelps and it is all kinds of adorable and inspiring.
The 15-year-old talked about his training, the toughest part about training in another country, his love for competition and his goal for swimming "faster and faster".
Excitement lit up the young swimmer’s face as he said it is "pretty cool" to be a "world champ" but that his ultimate goal is to "keep the ball rolling" and win a gold at 2004 Athens Olympics.
Watch the full interview here.
This blast from the past interview also provides an insight into what the young Phelps gave up to be a world champion. Admitting that he did not get to have the life of a normal teenager, he maintained that he is doing a lot of other stuff that other 15-year-olds were not.
At the same time, what did he look forward to a soon to be sixteen young man? Getting his license and a car.
“I haven’t even got my learner’s (license) yet! After I get my learner’s, I will get my license and I will get a car. I’m looking forward to that,” said the young Phelps.
The video also features an interview with his coach Bob Bowman. Shot in 2001, the interview was taken a year after Phelps’ first Olympic stint in Sydney and a month before the World Aquatics Championships.