Comments on: Michael Phelps and Marfan Syndrome?

By: um

um — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:26:20 +0000

I think he might have had symptoms, but people with Marfan syndrome usually have shortened torsos and what looks like a hunched back

By: fred

fred — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 07:47:59 +0000

no way, his body is proportioned due to extreme workouts, its muscle bulk. marfans heart as said would not allow for such performance for one. his body is accentuated with his low riding pants.

By: Neovenator

Neovenator — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 04:15:29 +0000

Just because he has doesn’t have ALL the features doesn’t mean he doesn’t have some form of the mutation. My brother has marfan’s. He’s very tall (6’5″) and skinny, has about a 6’10″ wingspan, is extremely flexible, long fingers and toes, and the weird teeth. He however does not have the heart problems or the vision problems yet he has still been diagnosed (my nephew is also rather tall and lanky for a 2 month old so I think he may have acquired it too. Is there any way to tell in infants?).

What I wanna see, is YECs try to tell me that there are no such thing as beneficial mutations. Even if Phelps doesn’t have it, I’ve seen my big brother dominate people in basketball, volleyball and ultimate frisbee.

By: Boo

Boo — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 23:59:05 +0000

He doesn’t look like he has Marfan’s to me. The features you mention are much more pronounced in Marfan’s cases. While his features are somewhat unique, he appears more properly proportioned than the Marfan’s men I’ve seen.

By: sam bell

sam bell — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 04:32:47 +0000

i have i case of marfans.. a lot like this i wouls say.. i think its awesome to see someone eles so much like my self doing so good. im a bodybuider/power lifter so im just happy that i didnt get it to a degree where i couldnt build muscle..

i think its an advantage in some cases, im ok with everything but the joint pain/ osteoarthritis it sucks but w/e, just pain… im getting my echo soon to make sure my hearts ok

By: Recent Links Tagged With "syndrome" - JabberTags

Recent Links Tagged With "syndrome" - JabberTags — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 18:19:27 +0000

[...] Saved by Xevious76 on Fri 19-12-2008 To Write Again… Saved by alan1948 on Sun 14-12-2008 Michael Phelps and Marfan Syndrome? Saved by JackieDel on Fri 12-12-2008 Invalid Saved by mooncowslow on Tue 02-12-2008 Bitter [...]

By: Aram Mohammed

Aram Mohammed — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:19:06 +0000

I seriously doubt Phelps has Marfan’s. Like I mentioned he has long arms yet short legs whereas people with Marfan’s have BOTH long arms and LEGS. Additionally, if he had Marfan’s I doubt his heart could take the stress of his athletic career. This former NCAA basketball player, 7,3″ Shagari Alleyne, based on his physical features (i.e. disproprotionately long arms and legs, extremely elongated face, and etc) , more likely has MS than Phelps.

By: Alec

Alec — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:03:54 +0000

I’m sorry for your loss, Alan. I was a competitive swimmer for **many** years and have ALL the Marfan’s signs include chest, face, armspan, etc. And yet no docter EVER said anything. Not even my father who is also a doctor.

In fact, when I complained of chest symptoms, the cardiologist tried to get me to go faster on the treadmill to see how high my heart rate would go! But she was adamant there was nothing wrong with me.

So I’m sorry to say that the medical community is ignorant — and often willfully so. They cannot make common sense observations. I was an excellent swimmer, and no doubt this genetic trait helped, but I quit swimming when I realized I had a problem. Maybe it saved my life, who knows?

By: Alan Gash

Alan Gash — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:34:08 +0000

My son Liam bore an uncanny resemblence to Phelps. He was 6ft 10ins when he died age 22 while backpacking in Australia in August 2006. Liam had many of the physical features associated with marfan but, his condition went undiagnosed despite visits to doctors and consultants throughout his life. His immense height, pigeon chest, hyper flexible joints and flat feet were all investigated but, doctors failed to recognise marfan.
Liam particpated in sport throughout his life, football being his greatest passion. He swam and even had a go at Australian rules footy ‘down under’ not long before he felt ‘unwell’. Chest pain led to the diagnosis of an aortic dissection and a team of brilliant doctors operated and saved his life. We got to Oz in time to see him but, tragically he died of a seizure 24hrs after we arrived.
Marfan can and continues to go undiagnosed in young men and women.

By: alliejanson

alliejanson — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:34:52 +0000

Aram- you make a good point.

I think it is also important to note that a clinical diagnosis of Marfan syndrome requires not only measurements of arms and legs. A complete Marfan evaluation includes detailed and specific examination of the eyes, heart, spine, skin and hips. Many of these other features of Marfan Syndrome cannot be seen by the naked eye. So even though someone may outwardly appear to have a marfan-like appearance, they may not meet criteria for a clinical diagnosis if specific features in these other parts of the body are absent.

As I pointed out above, the passage in Phelps’ autobiography talks about being evaluated for Marfan Syndrome, but does not say whether or not he was ever given a definitive diagnosis of the condition. I think that is very important to keep in mind.

The more interesting issue, in my opinion, was brought up by the anonymous commenter above:

“We all have good & bad elements inherited in our genes. It’s what you do with them that makes you into a world class athlete. . .”

Whether Michael Phelps has Marfan Syndrome or not, I think it is clear that he would not be the athlete he is today without will, determination and extremely hard work.