https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh9jAD1ofm4
Michael Phelps’ Under Armour ad is the 2nd most shared Olympics ad this year. The most decorated Olympian of all time, having won 27 medals, Michael Phelps is an American swimmer and most likely part man, part fish, in our opinion. The ad was created by Droga5. Via Newser:
When the Olympic athletes are all competing in their respective sports during the games, it’s easy for fans (me) to get caught up in the moment and all of the excitement and fail to acknowledge the years (and years and years) of rigorous training that every single person competing has had to achieve to get to where they are today. Even in the case of Michael Phelps — the most decorated Olympian of all-time — the guy makes swimming look so effortless that not everyone stops to wonder just how intensely Phelps has trained to be competing (and most likely dominating) his fifth Olympic Games. And that’s where Under Armour’s new Michael Phelps ad comes in, here to remind us all that training for the Olympics is no joke.
One of the most interesting parts of the spot is the clip of Phelps getting a cupping treatment on his back, which isn’t really so much training as much as it is a literal suction cupping of his back.
2016 did feel a little like the year when world news outlets realised cupping existed, at some points. Congratulations again to Michael Phelps on this year’s haul!