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Phelps

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Phelps
NamePhelps
Birth nameMichael Fred Phelps II
NicknamesThe Baltimore Bullet, Flying Fish
Birth dateJune 30, 1985
Birth placeBaltimore, Maryland, United States
Height6 ft 4 in
Weight194 lb
SportSwimming
StrokesButterfly, Freestyle, Individual medley
ClubNorth Baltimore Aquatic Club
CollegeteamUniversity of Michigan
CoachBob Bowman

Phelps is an American former competitive swimmer widely regarded as the greatest Olympian of all time. His unprecedented success at the Olympic Games and World Aquatics Championships redefined the sport of swimming. With a record 28 Olympic medals, 23 of them gold, his career achievements remain unmatched in the history of the Olympic movement.

Early life and education

Born in Baltimore, he was raised in the Rodgers Forge neighborhood and attended Towson High School. He was introduced to swimming by his sisters, Whitney and Hilary, as a means to channel his abundant energy, later being diagnosed with ADHD. He trained under coach Bob Bowman at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, where his prodigious talent became evident. For his secondary education, he attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, studying sports marketing and management while swimming for the Michigan Wolverines.

Swimming career

His international career began in spectacular fashion at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, making him the youngest male U.S. Olympian in decades. He rose to global dominance at the 2001 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, setting his first world record in the 200 meter butterfly. A defining rivalry with fellow swimmers like Ian Thorpe and Ryan Lochte pushed the sport to new heights. His technical proficiency across multiple strokes, particularly the butterfly stroke and individual medley, combined with an intense training regimen, made him nearly unbeatable in major competitions for over a decade.

Olympic achievements

His Olympic journey is unparalleled, spanning five Games from Sydney to Rio de Janeiro. At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, he won eight medals, matching the record set by Alexander Dityatin. His performance at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing was historic, where he won eight gold medals, breaking the single-Games record held by Mark Spitz. He added four golds and two silvers at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He came out of retirement to compete in Rio de Janeiro, winning five golds and one silver, and famously captained the U.S. team. His final race was a gold medal in the 4 × 100 meter medley relay.

Post-swimming career

Following his retirement after the 2016 Summer Olympics, he has remained a prominent figure in the sports world and beyond. He founded the Michael Phelps Foundation, which promotes water safety and healthy living. He has worked as a swimming analyst for NBC Sports during its Olympic coverage and has been an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness, sharing his own struggles with depression. He has also engaged in various business ventures and philanthropic efforts, often collaborating with long-time sponsor Speedo.

Personal life

He married former Miss California USA winner Nicole Johnson in 2016. The couple has three sons and resides in Paradise Valley, Arizona. He has been open about his mental health journey and his commitment to therapy. His interests include golf and he has participated in celebrity tournaments. His life and career have been documented in books like *Beneath the Surface* and the ESPN film *The Last Gold*.

Legacy and honors

His legacy in aquatic sports is monumental, having set 39 world records and 57 total medals in major international competition. He was named World Swimmer of the Year a record eight times and American Swimmer of the Year eleven times. In 2016, he received the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsman of the Year. The International Swimming Hall of Fame inducted him in 2017. His record medal haul and longevity have cemented his status as a global sports icon, inspiring a generation of swimmers like Caeleb Dressel and Katie Ledecky.

Category:American male swimmers Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in swimming Category:University of Michigan alumni