Early Life and Introduction to Swimming
Michael Fred Phelps II was born on June 30, 1985, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was first introduced to the sport of swimming when he was seven years old. As it happened, Phelps had a prodigious talent for the sport even from his tender age. Diagnosed with ADHD, swimming became an outlet for his boundless energy and focus.
Rise to Stardom
Phelps’s rise through competitive swimming began with his swim in the 2000 Sydney Olympics at 15 years old, becoming the youngest male swimmer to participate on a U.S. Olympic swim team for 68 years. Even though he did not medal, it really did foreshadow the kind of supremacy he would later claim at these events.
Athens 2004: A Record-Breaking Debut
The 2004 Athens Olympics was the breakthrough games for Phelps. He won six gold medals and two bronze, thereby equaling the record for the highest number of medals claimed by any individual in any one Olympic Games.
Beijing 2008: The Height of Olympic Success
In the Beijing 2008 Olympics, Phelps did what most people thought was impossible, winning eight golds in a single Games, shattering Mark Spitz’s record of seven golds back in 1972. This established him as one of the greatest athletes ever to take part in the Olympics.
Continued Dominance: London 2012 and Rio 2016
Phelps continued his dominance in the 2012 London Olympics, where he won four golds and two silvers. Then, after coming out of retirement for a very short time, he showed up to the 2016 Rio Olympics and swam his way to five golds and one silver, increasing his overall Olympic medal count to a record 28, including 23 golds.
Legacy and Impact
Michael Phelps retired as the highest-awarded Olympian of all time. His influence spreads way beyond the total of his medals: he is an advocate for mental health awareness and water safety. The story of Phelps is one of overcoming—pushing the boundaries of what is possible in sports.