[82][83] Although this race ended the chance to match Spitz's record, Phelps had savored the challenge even though it was not his strongest event, saying "How can I be disappointed? [41][42], Phelps's rapid improvement culminated when he qualified for the 2000 Summer Olympics at the age of 15, as he became the youngest male (since Ralph Flanagan in 1932) to make a U.S. Olympic swim team in 68 years. Phelps completed his split in 50.1 seconds, the fastest butterfly split ever for the event, giving teammate Jason Lezak a more than half-second lead for the final leg, which he held onto to clinch the event in world record time. Having completed his improbably dominant comeback at the 2016 Games, he again retired from competitive swimming. Michael Phelps is considered to be the greatest Olympian swimmer of all time. London 2012 was also astonishing he got four golds and two silvers while Rio 1016 saw him stage a historic comeback (he had decided to retire after London), aged 31, to bag five gold medals and one silver. He also became the first swimmer to successfully defend an Olympic butterfly title. He also won most gold medals in FINA world championship's history. [273], As a teenager, Phelps idolized Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe and modeled his public image after Thorpe. That's how I've grown up. I'm happy with how things finished," he said. He is now retired and is married to Nicole, with whom he has three sons, Boomer, Becker, and Maverick. Michael Fred Phelps was born on June 30, 1985, in Baltimore, Maryland. He said the"hardest fall" came after the 2012 Olympics when he found himself sitting in his room alone for three to five days, not eating and barely sleeping: "I didn't want to be in the sport anymore," he recalled. He went on that year to win his first international title at the world championships in Fukuoka, Japan. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. More age group records followed, and as of August 21, 2018, Phelps still held 11 age group records, eight in long course,[30] and three in short course. [8] His longtime coach Bowman told the Washington Post: I dont know yet. It also promotes the value of planning and goal-setting. This is his swimmer profile page including the latest times, meets, rankings, and more. In the final, Phelps could not match the speed of Ian Crocker and had to settle for silver, finishing 51.65 to 50.40, a new world record for Crocker. He currently practices at Terra Nova Counseling. On August 7, 2016, Phelps clinched his 19th Olympic gold medal in Rio swimming the second leg of the men's 400 freestyle relay. Phelps is the long course world record holder in the men's 400-meter individual medley as well as the former long course world record holder in the 200-meter freestyle, 100-meter butterfly, 200-meter butterfly, and 200-meter individual medley. From then on, he would dominate the next four Games, finishing the most decorated athlete at every one. "[35] After the 2004 Summer Olympics, Bowman was hired as the head coach for the University of Michigan after Jon Urbanchek retired. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Phelps was born in Baltimore on June 30, 1985, and got serious with the sport after joining the North Baltimore Aquatic Club. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. [228] In each of these events he swam the fastest time in the world for 2015. [13] At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro,[14] his fifth Olympics, he was selected by his team to be the flag bearer of the United States at the 2016 Summer Olympics Parade of Nations. At the 2012 Olympic Games, held in London, Phelps' Olympic medal count increased to 22, setting a new record for most Olympic medals (beating gymnast Larisa Latynina's prior record of 18). Michael Phillips is a marriage & family therapist in Citrus Heights, CA. At the 2008 Games in Beijing, he became the first athlete to win eight gold medals at a single Olympics. Career in swimming. Le Nouvel Observateur noted "Phelps taking the time to applaud and console Bernard" and wrote that this sportsmanship was "proof that the person who swims in the wake of Mark Spitz is also a great gentleman. Being able to finish how I won is just something very special to me and this is why you are seeing more and more emotion on the medal podium.". [188] It was the first time Lochte had beat Phelps in a major national meet. [231], Phelps was chosen to be the American flag bearer at the opening ceremony, which was the first Olympic opening ceremony that he would attend. No more," and that "I just wanted to be done with swimming and didn't want anything to do with the sport anymore. "[154] On August 16, Phelps won his seventh gold medal of the Games in the men's 100-meter butterfly, setting an Olympic record for the event with a time of 50.58 seconds and edging out his nearest competitor avi, by one hundredth (0.01) of a second.[155]. AA: Age. [202] In the 100-meter butterfly, Phelps won his third consecutive title (also winning in 2007 and 2009) and second individual title of the meet with a time of 50.71. It all depends on how you deal with those bumps. "I didn't want to be alive anymore. [128] By winning seven gold medals, Phelps broke the record of six set by Ian Thorpe at the 2001 World Championships. "I've been able to do everything I've ever put my mind to in this sport. [64], At the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Phelps competed in six events; the 200- and 400-meter individual medley, the 100- and 200-meter butterfly, the 200-meter freestyle, and the 200-meter backstroke. "[265], Phelps is an avid golfer, and has competed in numerous amateur and pro-am golf tournaments; he considered becoming a professional golfer after retiring from swimming. [260], Phelps's performance in the Rio Olympics was unique in "winning multiple gold medals at 31 years old, well beyond the typical peak for male swimmers". [231] Phelps achieved a split time of 47.12, the fourth-fastest of the field (the three fastest times were posted by the team anchors),[231] which was also faster than any of his relay splits at the last three Olympics. His large frame, broad shoulders and big feet, which act like fins in the water, made his body the perfect fit for swimming. Honestly, were kind of taking it day by day. "[138], Phelps set an Olympic record in the preliminary heats of the 400-meter individual medley. Best Known As: The swimmer who won a record 28 Olympic medals. [116] In his third event, the 4200-meter freestyle relay, Phelps, along with Ryan Lochte, Peter Vanderkaay, and Klete Keller, won the gold medal with a time of 7:05.28. [181] For his final event, the 4100-meter medley relay, Phelps won his fifth gold medal. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. On July 24, in the semi-finals of the 200-meter individual medley, he broke his own world record with a time of 1:57.52. Even though Phelps competed in the backstroke in international competition only once (at the 2006 Pan Pacific Championships), he was among the best backstroke swimmers in the world. This page was last edited on 24 April 2023, at 11:43. [182], At the 2010 National Championships, Phelps competed in five individual events. At his peak in training, Phelps ate between 8,000 to 10,000 calories per day. [215] This win also marked Phelps's fifth Olympic title in the individual medley, breaking the record of four shared by Hungarian Tams Darnyi and Ukrainian Yana Klochkova. This was typical of someone who is over half a foot shorter, giving him less body to pull through the water. "As a kid, I wanted to do something that no one had ever done before, and I'm enjoying it. [292] im is offered through the Boys & Girls Clubs of America[292] and through Special Olympics International. In the 200-meter butterfly, Phelps led from start to finish, coming in first with a time of 1:54.11. [71][72] The following day, Phelps finished second to Ian Crocker in the 100-meter butterfly. In the 200-meter butterfly, Phelps lost to Tom Malchow, finishing behind him 1:55.41 to 1:55.21. [223][224] The relationship between Phelps and coach Bob Bowman had deteriorated in the preparations for London 2012, so Phelps convinced a skeptical Bowman that he "wasn't training for history. [254][255], On August 13, in the 4 100-meter medley relay, Phelps ended his career with another gold medal, his 23rd at the Olympics and his 28th Olympic medal overall. He was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), when he was in 6th grade. In addition to his successful swim career, Phelps has written two books, Beneath the Surface: My Story (2008) and No Limits: The Will to Succeed (2009). [105] On July 29, Phelps, along with Ryan Lochte, Peter Vanderkaay and Klete Keller, won the gold in the 4200-meter freestyle relay with a time of 7:06.58. Not surprisingly, the first stroke he mastered was the backstroke. Michael Phelps is arguably the greatest Olympian ever. [104] Later that day, Phelps won his third gold in the 200-meter individual medley. [56] Less than an hour later, Phelps swam the lead-off leg for the 4200-meter freestyle relay. Phelps put up a solid time of 1:46.60 (an American record) but the Americans could not match the depth of the Australians and ultimately finished second 7:10.26 to 7:08.58. Less than one hour after his gold medal victory in the 200-meter butterfly, Phelps swam the lead-off leg of the 4200-meter freestyle relay. Why Michael Phelps is still great at an age when most swimmers have faded The American is the only person to have won an individual swimming gold past the age of 31. "We're competing to represent our country. [298], In 2017, Phelps joined the board of Medibio, a company focused on diagnosis of mental health disorders. As the lead-off leg in the 4100-meter freestyle relay, Phelps set the championship record in the 100-meter freestyle with a time of 48.13. Joseph Schooling of Singapore, a 21-year-old swimmer who idolized Phelps when he was boy, won the gold. [121] Phelps first gold medal came in the 4100-meter freestyle. [113], At the 2006 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Victoria, British Columbia, Phelps won five gold medals and one silver. [198] This was Phelps's first bronze in a World Aquatics Championships. ", "Usain Bolt vs. Michael Phelps: Who's The Greatest Olympian Of All Time? [141][142] This swim went on to become the longest men's world record to stand in long course meters, beating Germany's Otto Farr who held the 100 backstroke world record from 1912 until 1926. Phelps swam the lead-off leg in 48.08, the second-best lead-off in the field behind James Magnussen's 47.49. Throughout my career I've been all over the world, but all I've seen have been hotels and swimming pools. "I say this a lot, but every single day I'm living a dream come true," Phelps told NBC Sports. He turned professional at 14, supplanting Phelps by one year as the youngest male swimmer to forsake his amateur status. [274] Thorpe initially said that it would be highly unlikely for Phelps to win eight gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. "I think people actually finally understand it is real," he said. The Americans were the first team to break the seven-minute mark in the relay, and broke the previous record, set in Melbourne, Australia, by more than four and a half seconds. )", "Michael Phelps Is Married to Nicole Johnson", "Michael Phelps Just Got Engaged to Former Miss California USA", "Michael Phelps Relishes the Cheer and Challenge of His New Reality", "Phelps baby No. [112] In his third event, the 200-meter individual medley, Phelps won with a time of 1:56.50, just ahead of Ryan Lochte's time of 1:56.78. Phelps holds 20 Guinness World Records which predominantly consist of accumulative Guinness World Records ("Guinness mosts", records formulated starting with "most") for total number of accomplishments and victories in swimming such as: most medals, consecutive number of medals, most medals within one tournament, most records in swimming etc. In his first event, the 400-meter individual medley, Phelps won gold ahead of Erik Vendt with a time of 4:12.48. Crocker won in a time of 50.76, a world record and 0.39 seconds ahead of Phelps. Age: 18. [296][297] Phelps stated he hoped to work with his Foundation more after retirement from competition following the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Morton E. Ruderman Award in Inclusion, 2019, to recognize his advocacy for people with disabilities and his own journey with mental health. .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}10 Things You Might Not Know About Jimmy Butler, Celebrities & Notables Running the Boston Marathon, 7 Facts About Gymnast and TikTok Star Olivia Dunne, Nat Sweetwater Cliftons First NBA Season, 8 Negro League Legends Featured in a New MLB Game, Get to Know NCAA Tournament Star Caitlin Clark. May 5, 2016),Beckett Richard (b.February 12, 2018)andMaverick Nicolas (b.September 9, 2019). Phelps dominated again, finishing in the top seed position with a world record time of 51.47. He began swimming at the age of 7. Phelps continued to dominate the sport at the 2007 world championships in Melbourne, where he won seven gold medals (200-metre and 400-metre IM, 100-metre and 200-metre butterfly, 200-metre freestyle, and 4 100-metre and 4 200-metre freestyle relay) and set five world records. He announced his second retirement on August 12, 2016,[15] having won more medals than 161 countries. [285], In September 2014, Phelps was arrested again, this time on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding in Baltimore. Beijing 2008 would see the greatest ever medal haul by a single athlete in an Olympic Games. [299], Phelps has set 39 world records (29 individual, 10 relay), which is more records than any other swimmer that is recognized by FINA; this achievement surpassed Mark Spitz's previous record of 33 world records (26 individual, 7 relay). [20][21] Phelps is of English, German, Irish, Scottish, and Welsh descent. At the U.S. spring nationals in 2003, he became the first male swimmer to claim titles in three different strokes at a single national championship, and he later broke an unprecedented five individual world records at the world championships in Barcelona, Spain. Phelps also returned to Baltimore with Bowman. Swimmer Michael Phelps has won 28 Olympic medals, more than anyone in history. Phelps retired following the 2012 Olympics, but he made a comeback in April 2014. [270][271] They have three sons together. Phelps described the case of Lia Thomas, the UPenn male . [161] Phelps, along with teammates Brendan Hansen, Aaron Peirsol, and Jason Lezak, set a new world record in the event with a time of 3 minutes and 29.34 seconds, 0.7 seconds ahead of second-place Australia and 1.34 seconds faster than the previous record set by the United States at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Phelps has accumulated a total of 28 medals at the Olympic Summer Games in Athens, Beijing, London and Rio 23 gold, three silver and two bronze setting the record for the most medal wins by any Olympic athlete. I'm in a better state of mind this time than I was four years ago.". [204], For the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Phelps originally stated he would never do eight events again, and would instead try new events. [283] He pleaded guilty to driving while impaired and was sentenced to serve 18 months of probation, fined $250, ordered to speak to high school students about drinking and driving, and to attend a Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) meeting. ; Photo: Adam Pretty/Getty Images, 10 Things You Might Not Know About Jimmy Butler, Name: Michael Phelps, Birth Year: 1985, Birth date: June 30, 1985, Birth State: Maryland, Birth City: Baltimore, Birth Country: United States.
