Michael Phelps

• Team: United States
• Sport: Swimming

• Date of birth: 30-Jun-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 was 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.

Michael competed in the 2009 13th FINA World Championships in Rome, walking away with five Gold and one SIlver medal. He also become the first man under 50 seconds in the 100m Butterfly event, breaking the World Record with a time of 49.82.

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 Butterfly (L/C) 1:51.51, 29th July 2009, Rome, ITA

100m Butterfly (L/C) 49:82, 1st August 2009, Rome, ITA

4x200m Freestyle Relay (L/C) 6:58.55, 31st July 2009, Rome, ITA

400m Individual Medley (L/C) 04:03.84, 10th August 2008, Beijing CHN

4x100m Freestyle Relay (L/C) 03:08.24, 11th August 2008, Beijing CHN

4x100m Medley Relay (L/C) 3:27.28, 2nd August 2009, Rome, ITA

Achievements

Winner of historic eight gold medals at the 2008 Olympic Games