Full name: Michael Fred Phelps, II
Gender: Male
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
Weight: 201 lbs (91 kg)
Born: June 30, 1985 in Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Affiliations: North Baltimore Aquatic Club/Club Wolverine
Country:
United States
Sport: Swimming
Medals: 14 Gold, 2 Bronze (16 Total)
| Michael Phelps’ performances at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics have brought him strong consideration as the greatest ever Olympian. He has surpassed the records of Mark Spitz and Johnny Weissmuller and is considered the greatest swimmer ever. Phelps swims several strokes, including butterfly and freestyle, but his best events are the individual medleys. At the 2004 Olympic Games, Michael Phelps became only the second athlete, after Aleksandr Dityatin (URS-GYM-1980) to win eight medals at a single Olympics. Phelps had attempted to win gold medals in eight swimming events, to better Mark Spitz’s performance at München. Phelps did not manage that but did win six gold medals (four individual) and two bronze medals. He followed this with a dominating performance at the 2005 World Championships at which he won five gold medals and a silver medal. He had also won five World Championship gold medals at the 2003 meet. Phelps not only did not stop competing but pushed his records even further. At the 2007 World Championships he entered eight events and won seven gold medals, losing out on the eighth in the 4x100 medley relay, when the USA was disqualified in an early round heat in which he had sat out. He seemed poised to challenge Spitz’s 1972 mark of seven gold medals. At Beijing Phelps again entered eight events and this time he came thru with a victory in all eight, becoming the first Olympian to win eight gold medals at one Olympic Games. Also, thru 2008, Phelps' Olympic record includes 14 gold medals, surpassing the previous mark of 10 set by Ray Ewry, and 16 Olympic medals, the most ever by a man, and trailing only the 18 of Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina. Phelps has indicated that he will continue to compete thru the 2012 Olympics, which could enable him to shatter all marks for Olympic medals and gold medals. |
| Games | Age | City | Sport | Country | Phase | Unit | Rank | T | RT | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Summer | 19 | Athina | Swimming | United States | Final | 3 | 1:45.32 | ||||
| 2004 Summer | 19 | Athina | Swimming | United States | Semi-Finals | Heat Two | 2 | QU | 1:47.08 | ||
| 2004 Summer | 19 | Athina | Swimming | United States | Round One | Heat Six | 1 | QU | 1:48.43 | ||
| 2008 Summer | 23 | Beijing | Swimming | United States | Final | 1 | WR | 1:42.96 | 0.73 | 6 | |
| 2008 Summer | 23 | Beijing | Swimming | United States | Semi-Finals | Heat Two | 3 | QU | 1:46.28 | 0.74 | 5 |
| 2008 Summer | 23 | Beijing | Swimming | United States | Round One | Heat Eight | 2 | QU | 1:46.48 | 0.73 | 4 |
| Games | Age | City | Sport | Team | NOC | Phase | Unit | Rank | T | IST | CTAS | RT | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Summer | 19 | Athina | Swimming | United States | USA | Final | 3 | 3:14.62 | 48.74 | 1:38.79 | ||||
| 2008 Summer | 23 | Beijing | Swimming | United States | USA | Final | 1 | WR | 3:08.24 | 47.51 | 47.51 | 0.75 | 4 |
| Games | Age | City | Sport | Team | NOC | Phase | Unit | Rank | T | IST | CTAS | RT | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Summer | 19 | Athina | Swimming | United States | USA | Final | 1 | 7:07.33 | 1:46.49 | 1:46.49 | ||||
| 2008 Summer | 23 | Beijing | Swimming | United States | USA | Final | 1 | WR | 6:58.56 | 1:43.31 | 1:43.31 | 0.72 | 4 |
| Games | Age | City | Sport | Country | Phase | Unit | Rank | T | RT | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Summer | 19 | Athina | Swimming | United States | Final | 1 | OR | 51.25 | |||
| 2004 Summer | 19 | Athina | Swimming | United States | Semi-Finals | Heat Two | 1 | QU/OR | 51.61 | ||
| 2004 Summer | 19 | Athina | Swimming | United States | Round One | Heat Seven | 1 | QU | 52.35 | ||
| 2008 Summer | 23 | Beijing | Swimming | United States | Final | 1 | OR | 50.58 | 0.71 | 5 | |
| 2008 Summer | 23 | Beijing | Swimming | United States | Semi-Finals | Heat One | 1 | QU | 50.97 | 0.72 | 4 |
| 2008 Summer | 23 | Beijing | Swimming | United States | Round One | Heat Nine | 2 | QU | 50.87 | 0.70 | 4 |
| Games | Age | City | Sport | Country | Phase | Unit | Rank | T | RT | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 Summer | 15 | Sydney | Swimming | United States | Final | 5 | 1:56.50 | ||||
| 2000 Summer | 15 | Sydney | Swimming | United States | Semi-Finals | Heat Two | 3 | QU | 1:57.00 | ||
| 2000 Summer | 15 | Sydney | Swimming | United States | Round One | Heat Five | 1 | QU | 1:57.30 | ||
| 2004 Summer | 19 | Athina | Swimming | United States | Final | 1 | OR | 1:54.04 | |||
| 2004 Summer | 19 | Athina | Swimming | United States | Semi-Finals | Heat One | 2 | QU | 1:55.65 | ||
| 2004 Summer | 19 | Athina | Swimming | United States | Round One | Heat Five | 1 | QU | 1:57.36 | ||
| 2008 Summer | 23 | Beijing | Swimming | United States | Final | 1 | WR | 1:52.03 | 0.74 | 4 | |
| 2008 Summer | 23 | Beijing | Swimming | United States | Semi-Finals | Heat Two | 1 | 1:53.70 | 0.72 | 4 | |
| 2008 Summer | 23 | Beijing | Swimming | United States | Round One | Heat Six | 1 | 1:53.70 | 0.75 | 4 |
| Games | Age | City | Sport | Country | Phase | Unit | Rank | T | RT | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Summer | 19 | Athina | Swimming | United States | Final | 1 | OR | 1:57.14 | |||
| 2004 Summer | 19 | Athina | Swimming | United States | Semi-Finals | Heat One | 1 | QU/OR | 1:58.52 | ||
| 2004 Summer | 19 | Athina | Swimming | United States | Round One | Heat Seven | 1 | QU | 2:00.01 | ||
| 2008 Summer | 23 | Beijing | Swimming | United States | Final | 1 | WR | 1:54.23 | 0.70 | 5 | |
| 2008 Summer | 23 | Beijing | Swimming | United States | Semi-Finals | Heat One | 1 | QU | 1:57.70 | 0.74 | 3 |
| 2008 Summer | 23 | Beijing | Swimming | United States | Round One | Heat Six | 1 | QU | 1:58.65 | 0.75 | 4 |
| Games | Age | City | Sport | Country | Phase | Unit | Rank | T | RT | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Summer | 19 | Athina | Swimming | United States | Final | 1 | WR | 4:08.26 | |||
| 2004 Summer | 19 | Athina | Swimming | United States | Round One | Heat Five | 1 | QU | 4:13.29 | ||
| 2008 Summer | 23 | Beijing | Swimming | United States | Final | 1 | WR | 4:03.84 | 0.74 | 4 | |
| 2008 Summer | 23 | Beijing | Swimming | United States | Round One | Heat Four | 1 | 4:07.82 | 0.75 | 4 |
| Games | Age | City | Sport | Team | NOC | Phase | Unit | Rank | T | IST | CTAS | RT | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Summer | 19 | Athina | Swimming | United States | USA | Round One | Heat Two | 1 | QU | 3:35.10 | 52.43 | 2:46.97 | ||
| 2008 Summer | 23 | Beijing | Swimming | United States | USA | Final | 1 | WR | 3:29.34 | 50.15 | 2:42.58 | 0.25 | 4 |