Michael Phelps

View Michael Phelps's Biography

“If you want to be the best, you have to do things other people aren’t willing to do.”

Dave: Gary, can you please please talk about London?

Full Name:	Michael Phelps
Nickname(s):	The Baltimore Bullet, Mr. Swimming, GOAT
Born:	June 30th, 1985
	Towson, Maryland, USA
Nationality:	United States
Status:	Retired

Michael Fred Phelps II is known principally as the most decorated Olympian of all time, with a total of 28 Olympic medals, 23 of them gold, spanning over four Olympic Games. He has actually competed at five Olympics; however, he did not medal at his first Games in Sydney, Australia. He is recognized for his formidable butterfly, though he also specializes in individual medleys and the 100 and 200-meter freestyle. At 31-years-old, Phelps retired from swimming as the greatest of all-time. His retirement came just days after finishing his fifth Olympics with five golds and a silver medal. In the beginning Michael Phelps was born in Towson, Maryland on June 30, 1985 to Fred and Debbie Phelps. While following in the wake of his two older sisters, Whitney and Hilary, a young Phelps was initially fearful of putting his face in the water. However, he overcame this discomfort and, in 1996, was inspired by the performances of Tom Malchow and Tom Dolan during the Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. Shortly thereafter, he joined the North Baltimore Athletic Club, where he met Bob Bowman, the coach who would see him through the highs and lows of the rest of his career. 2000 Olympic Games Though Phelps struggled in school …

Dave: Gary, can you please please talk about London?

Gary: Hey, I forgot to mention that I’m going to the Olympics. I mean that I’m already here in London…

Michael Phelps Becomes First Swimmer to Surpass 1,000,000 Followers

Michael’s Twitter profile still says “14-time gold medalist”. It might be time to update that. (Photo Courtesy: ©Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com)

The 2012 London Olympic Photo Vault Is Open

Missy Franklin, Dana Vollmer, Rebecca Soni, Allison Schmitt, Women’s 4x100m Medley Relay gold medalist and world record holders, 2012 Olympic Games, August 4th (Photo Credit: US Presswire)

Day 8 Finals Recap, Presented by SwimOutlet Team Division

The US Swim Team put an exclamation point on arguably the greatest Olympics ever.

Is Michael Phelps the Greatest Athlete of All-Time

Photo Credit: US Presswire

Will Missy Franklin Be The Greatest Female Olympian in the Future

Photo Credit: US Presswire

Sun Yang Crushes World Record on Final Day of Olympics (RECAP)

Sun Yang hammered the World Record in the men’s 1500 free (Photo Courtesy: US Presswire)

Schmitt to Anchor American 400 Medley Relay

The Americans have chosen Allison Schmitt to anchor their finals medley relay. (Photo Courtesy: ©Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com)

The Final Olympic Finals Preview, Presented by SwimOutlet Team Division

4 races left in the swimming at the 2012 Olympics. (Photo Courtesy © Jesse Stipek)

World Record Prospects for American Medley Relays

Can a confident Rebecca Soni lead the American women to a World Record on Saturday? (Photo Courtesy: ©Tim Binning/TheSwimPicturs.com)

Friday Olympic Finals Recap presented by Swimoutlet Team Divison

Michael Phelps On Track To Win His 22nd Career Medal

(Photo Courtesy: ©Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com)

Young Blood Takes Over the London Aquatics Centre

Ruta Meilutyte is the epitome of the 2012 London Olympic Games (Photo Courtesy: ©Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com)

Americans Nearly Sweep, But for Big Upset by France’s Other Manaudou

American Katie Ledecky might have upstaged even Phelps and Franklin on Day 7 (Photo Courtesy: ©Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com)

Friday’s Olympic Finals Preview, Presented by SwimOutlet Team Division

Michael Phelps and Missy Franklin finish off their individual schedule tonight. (Photo Courtesy © Tim Binning, TheSwimPictures.com)