Michael Phelps

Team: United States
Sport: Swimming
Date of birth: 30/06/1985
Discipline: Butterfly

Biography

At the age of 15, Phelps competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. He was the youngest American male swimmer at an Olympic Games in 68 years. While he did not win a medal, he was fifth in the 200m Butterfly.

At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Michael won a record 8 medals, 6 of these being gold, equalling the Olympic record for medals which had been held by Alexander Dityatin since 1980.

Michael re-wrote the records book at the 2007 FINA World Championships in Melbourne winning 7 Gold Medals while breaking 5 (4 individual and 1 relay) World Records.

2008 has been the most amazing year for Michael Phelps. At the Olympic Games he won eight Gold medals, the most by any Athlete at a single Games and became the Worlds 2nd most decorated Olympian with sixteen Olympic medals.

Now a household name, Michael has just launched ‘The Michael Phelps Foundation’ which will promote water saftey and encourage children to lead active, healthy lives.

Records Held

World:
200m Freestyle (L/C) 1:42.96, 12th August 2008, Beijing CHN
200m Butterfly (L/C) 1:52.03, 13th August 2008, Beijing CHN
200m Individual Medley (L/C) 1:54.23, 15th August 2008, Beijing CHN
4×200m Freestyle Relay (L/C) 6:58.56, 13th August 2008, Beijing CHN
400m Individual Medley (L/C) 04:03.84, 10th August 2008, Beijing CHN
4×100m Freestyle Relay (L/C) 03:08.24, 11th August 2008, Beijing CHN
4×100m Medley Relay (L/C) 3:29.34, 17th August 2008, Beijing CHN

Achievements

Winner of historic eight gold medals at the 2008 Olympic Games

2008 Olympic Games
1st 400m Individual Medley (World Record)
1st 4×100m Freestyle Relay (World Record)
1st 200m Freestyle (World Record)
1st 200m Butterfly (World Record)
1st 4×200m Freestyle (World Record)
1st 200m Individual Medley (World Record)
1st 4×100m Medley Relay (World Record)
1st 100m Butterfly

2007 12th FINA World Championships
1st 200m Freestyle (World Record)
1st 200m Butterfly (World Record)
1st 200m IM (World Record)
1st 400m IM (World Record)
1st 4×200m Freestyle Relay (World Record)
1st 4×100m Freestyle Relay (Championship Record)
1st 100m Butterfly

2005 11th FINA World Championships
1st 200m Freestyle
1st 200m Individual Medley
1st 4×100m Freestyle Relay
1st 4×200m Freestyle Relay
2nd 100m Butterfly

2004 Olympic Games
1st 100m Butterfly
1st 200m Butterfly
1st 200m Individual Medley
1st 400m Individual Medley
1st 4×200m Freestyle Relay
1st 4×100m Medley Relay
3rd 200m Freestyle
3rd 4×100m Freestyle Relay