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Michael Phelps

Swimming · United States

Michael
Phelps

World Record
39World Record
World Champion
26World Champion
Olympic Medal
23Olympic Medal
3Legend
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Photo: Foto: Agência Brasil Fotografias / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Eight golds at a single Games. Twenty-three across his career — more than any Olympian in any sport.

About Michael

Michael Phelps competed at four Olympic Games between 2000 and 2016, specialising in butterfly and individual medley. He won 28 Olympic medals, 23 of them gold — both all-time records across every sport — set 39 world records and took 26 world titles. Since retiring he has worked publicly on athlete mental health.

The moments

Iconic
achievements

World Record
2001

Phelps Becomes Youngest Man to Set Swimming World Record

At 15 years and 9 months, he swam 1:54.58 in the 200m butterfly, becoming the youngest male ever to set a swimming world record.

Olympic Medal
2004

Phelps Takes First Olympic Gold in Record 400m IM

At his first Olympic Games, Phelps claimed gold in the 400m individual medley, touching the wall in a world-record time of 4:08.26 and marking the beginning of a landmark career in the pool.

Legend
2004

Phelps Wins Eight Medals at Athens, Six of Them Gold

At Athens, Phelps left with eight medals across eight events, six of them gold and two bronze, matching the record for most medals won at a single Games.

World Champion
2007

Phelps Takes Seven Golds at One World Championships

He claimed seven gold medals and set five world records at a single World Championships, becoming the first man to win seven world titles at one meet.

Legend
2008

Phelps Wins Eighth Gold, Breaking Spitz's Record

With gold in the 4x100m medley relay, Phelps claimed his eighth title of the Games, surpassing Mark Spitz's 1972 record of seven golds at a single Olympics.

Legend
2012

Phelps Wins 19th Medal, Most Decorated Olympian Ever

Anchoring the 4x200m freestyle relay to gold, Phelps claimed his 19th Olympic medal and moved past Larisa Latynina to become the most decorated Olympian in history.

Olympic Medal
2016

Phelps Closes Career With 23rd Olympic Gold

In his final Olympic race, Phelps swam the butterfly leg of the 4x100m medley relay, claiming a 23rd gold and his 28th Olympic medal overall.

The record

  1. 2001Phelps Becomes Youngest Man to Set Swimming World RecordWorld Record
  2. 2004Phelps Takes First Olympic Gold in Record 400m IMOlympic Medal
  3. 2004Phelps Wins Eight Medals at Athens, Six of Them GoldLegend
  4. 2007Phelps Takes Seven Golds at One World ChampionshipsWorld Champion
  5. 2008Phelps Wins Eighth Gold, Breaking Spitz's RecordLegend
  6. 2012Phelps Wins 19th Medal, Most Decorated Olympian EverLegend
  7. 2016Phelps Closes Career With 23rd Olympic GoldOlympic Medal