Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps is a retired American competitive swimmer who is the most decorated Olympian of all time. Over the course of five Olympic Games he won a record number of medals, dominating events across butterfly, freestyle, and individual medley, and reshaping expectations of what was possible in the sport.

Early life

Michael Fred Phelps II was born on June 30, 1985, in Baltimore, Maryland. He began swimming as a child, partly encouraged as an outlet for his energy after being diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He trained at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club under coach Bob Bowman, who would guide him throughout much of his career. Phelps's talent emerged early, and as a teenager he qualified for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, becoming one of the youngest male swimmers to represent the United States at the Games in decades.

Career

Phelps rose to global prominence at the 2004 Athens Olympics, where he won multiple gold medals. His most celebrated achievement came at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he won eight gold medals in a single Games, surpassing the previous record and setting numerous world records in the process. He continued to compete at the highest level at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics, adding to his medal tally each time.

Across his Olympic career, Phelps accumulated 28 medals in total, including 23 gold, both records that stand far ahead of any other athlete in the history of the Games. His signature events included the 100m and 200m butterfly, the 200m and 400m individual medley, and various relay events in which he anchored or led the U.S. teams to victory. He also set dozens of world records over the course of his career, and his rivalry and camaraderie with other elite swimmers helped raise the profile of the sport worldwide. His longevity, competing at an elite level across four consecutive Olympics, set him apart even among the greatest swimmers.

Recent work

Phelps retired from competitive swimming after the 2016 Rio Olympics, having briefly retired once before following the 2012 London Games and then returning to competition. Since then he has become a prominent advocate for mental health, speaking openly about his own struggles with depression and anxiety and working to reduce stigma around seeking help. Through the Michael Phelps Foundation he has promoted water safety and healthy, active living for children. He has also remained involved in the sport as a commentator and ambassador. Married to Nicole Johnson, with whom he has children, Phelps is widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes in the history of the Olympic Games.