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Michael Fred Phelps II is an American former competitive swimmer and the most decorated Olympian of all time, with a total of 28 medals. Phelps also holds the all-time records for Olympic gold medals (23),Olympic gold medals in individual events (13), and Olympic medals in individual events (16). In winning eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games, Phelps broke fellow American swimmer Mark Spitz's 1972 record of seven first-place finishes at any single Olympic Games. At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Phelps won four gold and two silver medals, and at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, he won five gold medals and one silver. This made him the most successful athlete of the Games for the fourth Olympics in a row.Phelps is the long course world record holder in the 100 meter butterfly, 200 meter butterfly, and 400 meter individual medley as well as the former long course world record holder in the 200 meter freestyle and 200 meter individual medley. He has won 83 medals in major international long course competition, of which 66 were gold, 14 silver, and 3 bronze, spanning the Olympics, the World, and the Pan Pacific Championships. Phelps's international titles and record-breaking performances have earned him the World Swimmer of the Year Award eight times and American Swimmer of the Year Award eleven times, a 2016 SwimSwam Swammy Award for Male Swimmer of the Year as well as the FINA Swimmer of the Year Award in 2012 and 2016. His unprecedented Olympic success in 2008 earned Phelps Sports Illustrated magazine's Sportsman of the Year award.After the 2008 Summer Olympics, Phelps started the Michael Phelps Foundation, which focuses on growing the sport of swimming and promoting healthier lifestyles. Phelps retired following the 2012 Olympics, but in April 2014 he made a comeback. At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, his fifth Olympics, he won five golds and one silver. Phelps was chosen to be a captain of the 2016 US Olympic team, and was also voted by his team to be the flag bearer of the United States at the 2016 Summer Olympics Parade of Nations.
Siblings: 2 sisters, Whitney Phelps (born in 1978) and Hilary Phelps.
Parents: Fred and Debbie Phelps.
Won 8 medals (6 Gold, 2 Bronze) in Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.
Signed sponsorship and endorsement deals with Speedo, Argent Mortgage, AT&T, Omega, Powerbar, Under Armour, Visa, and Wheaties, among others.
He was the youngest male Olympian since 1932 (he was only 15 when he made it in the 2000 Olympics).
HAD a street named after him in his hometown Towson, Maryland.
First person under one minute and 55 seconds in 200m fly with world record swim.
His sister, Whitney Phelps , was a member of the 1995 World Championship team.
Became the youngest male swimmer ever to set a world record at the age of 15 years and nine months, breaking the record in the 200m butterfly.
Attended the University of Michigan from 2004 to 2008, but did not pursue a degree.
"Phelps Flys", winning 8 medals at the 2004 Olympics, was ranked #17 in TV Guides list of the "25 Most Awesome Sports Moments (of the last 15 years)". [17 July 2005 issue]
Winner of the "Sports - Choice Athlete (male)" category at the 2005 Teen Choice Awards.
His feet have been referred to as "fins" by the media, because he wears a size 14 shoe. His wing span measures in at 6 foot 7 inches.
Graduated from Towson High School in 2003.
Named the Mens World Swimmer of the Year 8 times (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, and 2016) and Mens American Swimmer of the Year 11 times (2001,2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2015, and 2016) by Swimming World Magazine.
Grew up in the Rodgers Forge section of Towson, Maryland, just outside of Baltimore.
Won 8 medals (8 Gold) in Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He became the first athlete in to win 8 gold medals at a single Olympics.
He has the prototypical swimmer body, he has an extremely long torso; that of a 6 foot 8 person. Whereas his legs are shorter, only that of a 6 foot person. This helps him keep his head above water in his signature event, the 100M butterfly.
Has double-jointed knees and elbows, which plays a role in his famous dolphin-like kick in the water.
Won 33 World Championship Long-Course (LC) medals (26 Gold, 6 Silver, 1 Bronze), and 1 World Championship Short-Course (SC) medal (1 Gold).
Won 28 Olympic Games medals (23 Gold, 3 Silver, 2 Bronze).
Five-time Olympian (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016).
Appeared in an infomercial hosted by Tracy Gallagher and Duane Sider for the "Rosetta Stone" language learning software.
He is of English, as well as Irish, German, Scottish, and Welsh, ancestry.
Kris Humphries was second in the nation to Phelps in four age 10 and under boys swim events.
Was photographed by a friend smoking marijuana at a party (February 2009).
Won the Silver Medal 100 Butter Fly race in a three way tie at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics 2016.
Won 6 medals (5 Gold, 1 Silver) in Swimming at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Good friends with fellow U.S. swimmer Ryan Lochte.
Signed endorsement deals with Under Armour, Visa Wheaties, among others.
Estimated net worth is $75 million.
Father, with Nicole Johnson , of son Boomer Robert Phelps, born June 2016.
Named the Mens Swimmer of the Year 2 times (2012 and 2016) by the International Swimming Federation (FINA).
Won 6 medals (4 Gold, 2 Silver) in Swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. His total of 22 Olympic medals broke the previous record of 18 held by the Soviet Larisa Latynina.
Won 18 Golden Goggle Awards presented by USA Swimming: Male Athlete of the Year 7 times (2004, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2016); Relay Performance of the Year 5 times (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2016); and Male Race of the Year 6 times (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2016).
Winning the gold in Greece was a dream come true but going on this tour,with Ian and Lenny and meeting the young swimming stars of tomorrow has,been simply incredible.
[Wednesday, August 13th, 2008, after relay win of 4 by 200 meter,shortly after 200 meter butterfly (solo) & 5th gold medal] We wanted to,break seven minutes. That was our goal going into today. . . . It,definitely feels good to be the first group, first country to ever dip,the seven-minute barrier.
[Friday, August 14th, 2008, 6th gold medal after 200 meter individual,medley] I had no time. The (gold) medal was in my warm-up jacket.
If I had glided, I would have been way too long. I took short, faster,strokes to try to get my hand on the wall. I ended up making the right,decision.
[His definite decision to retire after the 2016 Olympics] This is over.
This is it.
You can’t put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get.
It’s the Olympics. If you can’t get up to swim early in the morning, don’t go.
I think goals should never be easy, they should force you to work, even if they are uncomfortable at the time.
I can only control my own performance. If I do my best, then I can feel good at the end of the day.
I want to test my maximum and see how much I can do. And I want to change the world of swimming.
