Michael Phelps, born June 30, 1985 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, is a former American male swimmer nicknamed "Flying Fish". He is known for his outstanding swimming achievements and brilliant performances at the Olympic Games, and is the athlete with the most gold medals in Olympic history.
Growth:
Phelps showed a love and talent for swimming from an early age. At the age of 7, he began training at a local swimming club. His coach, Bob Bowman, spotted his potential and began training him rigorously. Although Phelps was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as a child, he found his way to focus through swimming and gradually overcame this obstacle.
Career:
Phelps' career has been full of brilliance. He made his Olympic debut at Sydney 2000 at the age of 15. In 2001, he won the first world title of his career at the World Championships in Fukuoka. During the 2003 World Swimming Championships in Barcelona, he won six medals and set five world records. At Athens 2004, he won six gold medals. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he won 8 gold medals, becoming the player who won the most gold medals in a single Olympic Games. He retired after London 2012, but announced his comeback in 2014 and won five more gold medals at Rio 2016 before officially retiring.
Major Achievements:
Phelps' major achievements include winning 23 gold, three silver and two bronze medals at the Olympic Games, making him the most decorated and gold-medal athlete in Olympic history. He also holds several world records, including the 100m butterfly, 200m butterfly, 200m individual medley and more. In addition, he has been named the world's best male swimmer of the year several times.
Social Contribution:
Not only has Phelps achieved great success in swimming, he is also actively involved in social welfare activities to raise awareness of mental health issues, especially ADHD. Through his own experiences, he encourages people to face challenges and actively seek help.
Personal life:
Phelps' personal life was equally varied. He has four children with his wife, Nicole Johnson. After retiring from the army, he joined the Tokyo Olympics reporting team as a commentator and reporter. On January 23, 2024, he announced the birth of his son Nico.