We’re counting down the top 10 moments of Michael Phelps’ career, so far. You, our readers, can participate, by voting for number one! Either Tweet or Comment on our Facebook with #phelpstop10lezaked if your number one is the improbable 400 free relay come-from-behind victory in Beijing is your top Phelps moment. Tweet or Facebook #phelpstop10cavic if your favorite is the almost unseeable 100 fly win over Milorad Cavic in Beijing, or Tweet/Comment #phelpstop108golds if your pick is the 400 medley relay, which ran Phelps into the history books as his 8th gold medal.
#7 – Phelps Becomes the Youngest Male in 68 Years to Make US Olympic Team
The 2000 Olympic Trials didn’t grant Phelps a first place finish like we’re used to seeing, and the Olympic Games in Sydney sent him home with no hardware in his carry on luggage.  But what stands out about this moment on our countdown once again has to do with his age, a tender 15 years.  When Phelps touched the wall at the famous IUPUI Natatorium, he had to double check the scoreboard to make sure he was seeing things correctly; for in fact there was a number two next to his name.  Finishing in a time of 1:57.48, Phelps became the youngest man to make the Olympic team since 13 year old Ralph Flanagan in 1932.  The first place finisher, Tom Malchow, joked after the race how he might have to retire sooner than he planned because of the bright future that lied ahead for Phelps. Little did he know, this youngster would have the brightest future the swimming world would ever witness.
See Also
#8 – Phelps proves he doesn’t need the Super Suit to win-2009 World Championships 100 Fly.
#9 – Phelps Becomes First Male to Three-Peat in Same Event.
#10 – Phelps Becomes the Youngest Male Swimmer to Break a World Record.
Some interesting tidbits about Ralph Flanagan, the 13 yr old who made the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic team: Although he had the 6th fastest time in semi-finals of the 1500 free at the Olympics, in 20:03.7, he only finished 5th in the faster semi-final, and back then the top 3 places in each semi-final, rather than the 6 fastest times, made the 6 man final. His semi-final time of 20:03.7 was faster than the semi-final time of the eventual bronze medalist, John Cristy of the USA, and his time would have actually finished 2nd in the slower semi-final. (Can you imagine if they had 1500 semi-finals nowadays? Brutal!!)
Flanagan, who was later a UTexas Longhorn, was no Phelps, but… Read more »
You are an encyclopedia! 🙂
hahaha! No way. I just like to google, wiki, summarize, synthesize a little, and sometimes I’m not too proud to even cut and paste. 😉 I was really curious about Flanagan because I don’t remember ever hearing about him before.
I also thought it was cool that he trained in a hotel pool. 😉
USA Swimming has to have it in an archive somewhere. I mean it was at the time the youngest person to ever set a world record. And it was just a year after the 2000 Olympics.
Not the youngest person, but the youngest male swimmer.
The youngest person to ever set world record, in any sporting event, is Karen Muir who was 12 years, 10 months, and 25 days.
would love to see video of his first World Record I’ve never been able to find it.
You aren’t the only one. I’m sure someone has it on a home video camera somewhere, probably on a forgotten VHS in a box in the attic. Not knowing that there are a ton of amateur swim historians who’d love to see how the legend began.
And a few weeks later in Sydney, 15-year-old MP finished 5th at his first olympic games in the 200 fly final.
Race video. MP is in lane 6. Already a great finish for him!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99lvYljIRn8
I hope it’s not your number 6. 🙂
Sorry if it’s the case.
I don’t want to be ahead of your countdown.
Why is IUPUI considered infamous? I’d consider it pretty famous for pretty GREAT things. Infamous means famous for unfavorable things…
Just a typo. Thanks for catching it!
its infamous if your a swimming world record. cause your about to get broke! sorry that was lame
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIGtHhAfe8w