There couldn’t be a better time to be a swimmer. After watching one of the most impressive athletic achievements ever this summer, kids were taking to the pool to make like Michael Phelps.

The eight-time Olympic gold-medal winner says he wants to elevate his sport. Well, he certainly has some kids watching and listening.

Clubs throughout the East Valley reported a spike in membership after Phelps spent a week in the nation’s collective gaze.

It’s even had its effect at the prep level — at one of the East Valley’s newest schools.

“I would have to say the Phelps effect has hit our team,” said Gilbert Perry coach J.J. Chandler. “Last year being our first, we stabilized the team at 20. Starting out this year, three weeks into the season, we are stabilizing at around 50.”

It should be pointed out that Perry has additional students, since it now has three full classes rather than two as it did last year. But Chandler believes Phelps was a factor, maybe too good a factor.

“My elite swimmers were inspired but are struggling,” he said. “It’s because when you watch the men and women on TV, it looks easy to swim as fast and naturally as they do when racing.”

Even the small schools have seen the effect.

“The Olympics (specifically Phelps) has energized and inspired our small swim team,” said Jenny Browne, the coach at 1A Gilbert Surrey Garden Christian.

The team has 10 members, only four of whom are returning from last year.

“They have all said that watching Phelps has not only given them a visual of what the strokes need to look like but also an idea of what it takes to get better in swimming,” Browne said.

It doesn’t hurt that Arizona has had its share of elite swimmers, including veteran Olympian Gary Hall Jr. (Phoenix Brophy), gold medalist Misty Hyman (Phoenix Shadow Mountain) and Klete Keller (Phoenix Arcadia), who picked up a gold in Beijing as part of the 800-meter relay team.

Still, the superstar of the summer games has already made a mark and will at least bring some added attention to one of Arizona’s most popular diversions as competition.

“We have had our largest turnout of new swimmers in seven years,” Mesa coach Mike Haney said. “They asked lots of questions about the Olympics as they watched. The race finishes were the perfect teaching tool for coaches.”

Haney said the underwater camera shots gave coaches another teaching tool for all swimmers.

Gilbert coach Brendan Keyes said the spike in interest has created an interesting quandary.

“I suppose only the times at the end of the season will be the proof to the Phelps effect,” Keyes said. “But right now, our numbers are up and we are fighting for every inch of pool space.”

KEY DATES

Sept. 13: Mesa Relays Sept. 20: Chandler Thunder Wolf Classic Sept. 20: Nike Invitational Sept. 27: Brophy/Xavier Invitational Regionals: 4A, Oct. 24-25; 5A, Oct. 31-Nov. 1 State: 1A-2A-3A, Oct. 17-18; 4A, Oct. 31-Nov. 1; 5A, Nov. 7-8