A man who needs no introduction, Michael Phelps has been given the BBC Sports Lifetime Achievement Award. The 31-year-old, now retired with a family, swam his way to five more gold medals and another silver this summer in Rio. Phelps, who extended his Olympic legacy to a whopping 23 gold medals and 28 total, over the span of five consecutive Games, is considered the greatest Olympian and perhaps the greatest athlete of all-time.
“I’m thrilled to receive the prestigious Sports Personality lifetime achievement award and follow in the footsteps of so many sporting greats,” said Phelps in a BBC Sports news release today. “It is a fitting way to end what has been an unbelievable year for me and I’m looking forward to what will be a great night.”
He will receive the award at the BBC Sports Personality show, which is scheduled for today. Phelps comes after football great Pele and legendary golfer Seve Ballesteros, among others, who have won this award in the past. The BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, meanwhile will be voted on tonight out of a short list of 16 exceptional British athletes. Among the candidates are runner Mo Farah, swimmer and world-record holder Adam Peaty, and tennis player Andy Murray.
When revisiting old MP videos, I’ve observed several commentators–Rowdy included–mention that he could win 10 or 11 gold medals if the games lasted 10 or 11 days. Besides the 200m backstroke, what other events (other than the 8 he won in Beijing) would he compete in?
Congrats to Michael, well deserved
Wtf
Looks like only in France we never give an award to MP. Shame on you French media.
Each year French sports newspaper L’Equipe gives an award for sportsman/sportswoman of the year and and it’s a shame that the greatest swimmer of all time never received it. Not in 2004. Not in 2007. Not in 2008. Not in 2012. And probably not in 2016. These journalists are absolutely ridiculous.
haha what
tennis player Adam Murray == > Andy?
Whoops.. That’s why I write for swimswam and not a tennis coverage website. fixed it!