By Kehinde Olusegun
Michael Phelps stands as the most decorated Olympian in history with 23 gold medals, the highest number of gold medals in individual Olympic events, representing the United States throughout his swimming career.
From his debut at the Olympic Games Sydney 2000 to his final appearance in the Olympic Games Rio 2016, Phelps left his mark as an Olympic athlete, capturing the hearts of swimmers, athletes and fans.
Phelps was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on June 30th 1985 and is the youngest of three siblings. His parents divorced when he was nine and the children were raised by their mother. His father remarried a few years later. Phelps later revealed that the divorce had a severe negative impact on him and his siblings and his relationship with his father was strained for a few years after the divorce.
Phelps began swimming at the age of seven and in his words “the only reason I ever got into the water was my mom wanted me to swim, my sisters and myself fell in live with the sport and we decided to swim.…”
Olympic History
At the age of 15, Phelps made history as the youngest swimmer to represent the United States at the Olympic Games Sydney 2000 since 1932. Phelps’ dominance came to light at the Olympic Games Athens 2004, where he clinched an impressive six gold and two bronze medals, showcasing his skills in events like the 100-meter and 200-meter butterfly, 200-meter and 400-meter individual medley and the 4×100-meter and 4×200-meter freestyle relays, falling just short of Mark Spitz’s world record seven gold medals at Munich 1972.
During the Olympic Games Beijing 2008, Phelps secured an unprecedented eight gold medals in both individual and team events, surpassing Mark Spitz’s record. He added four gold and two silver medals to his roster in the Olympic Games London 2012. At the Olympic Games Rio 2016, Phelps further solidified his legacy by capturing five gold and one silver medal.
His unparalleled achievements have earned him numerous all-time Olympic records, including the highest medal winner as an individual, the highest number of gold medals, the highest number of Olympic gold medals in individual events and the title of the most decorated Olympian of all time, making him a true icon of the sport.
Source: Team USA, Paris 2024 Olympicsxzx
