Michael Phelps – The Man With The Midas Touch

 

Michael Phelps on Sports Illustrated
Michael Phelps with his eight gold medals on Sports Illustrated

Born: June 30, 1985

Country: U.S.A.

#1   By the age of 10 Michael Phelps held a national record for his age group. Phelps was 15 when he made the American team for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. Though he didn’t win a medal, Phelps became the youngest male Olympian since 1932.

#2   At 15 years and 9 months, Phelps became the youngest man ever to set a swimming world record. He has set 39 world records, more than any other swimmer.

#3   By winning 8 gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games Michael Phelps broke Mark Spitz’s record (7) of most gold medals in a single Olympics. That performance earned Phelps Sports Illustrated magazine’s Sportsman of the Year award.

#4   Phelps’ prodigious performance in the 2008 Beijing Olympics was too good to be believed and set rumors that he might be taking performance enhancing drugs. Phelps responded by noting that he had volunteered to be tested.

#5   In his first event at 2012 London Olympic Games, the 400m Individual Medley, Michael Phelps finished fourth making it the first time since the 2000 Summer Olympics that he had not won a medal in an Olympic event.

Michael Phelps at 2012 London Olympics
Michael Phelps with his gold medal at 2012 London Olympics

#6    On July 31, 2012 by winning a gold medal in the 4X200m freestyle relay Phelps won his nineteenth medal in Olympic Games and became the most decorated Olympian ever. He didn’t stop at that! Phelps went on to win three more gold medals to take his gold medal tally to 18 and his total medal tally to a staggering 22.

#7   Phelps has double the number of gold medals than his nearest competitor. More amazingly since the start of Olympics in 1896 only 39 countries have won more gold medals than Phelps’ 18.

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