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Michael Phelps Biography

POSTED: Friday, November 2, 2007

Sport: Swimming
Country: United States
Birth Date: June 30, 1985
Height / Weight: 6-foot-4, 185 lbs.
Hometown: Baltimore, Md.
Residence: Ann Arbor, Mich.

Olympic History


Michael Phelps entered the 2004 Athens Games looking to top Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals at a single Olympics. He came close to the mark, earning six golds and two bronzes to become the first athlete to ever win eight medals in a non-boycotted Olympics. Phelps took first in the 100m and 200m butterfly, the 200m and 400m individual medley and the 4x200m freestyle relay and the 4x100m medley relay. The Baltimore native was third in the 200m free and was a part of the bronze-medal winning 4x100m freestyle relay.

Athens marked Phelps' second Olympic appearance, as he was also a part of the 2000 U.S. Olympic roster. While he did not win a medal at the Sydney Games, he still made history by becoming the youngest male Olympian since 1932.

2007 World Championships


Phelps turned in a dominating performance at the 2007 Worlds, winning seven gold medals in the 200m free, 100m and 200m fly, 200m and 400m IM, and the 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle relays. He also set five world records at the meet in the 200m free, 200m fly, 200m and 400m IM, and the 4x200m relay. Phelps' efforts made him the winningest swimmer in world championships history.

Accolades


The American's record-breaking career has resulted in several accolades. Some of Phelps' honors include the 2003 James E. Sullivan Award (given to the nation's top amateur athlete), the USA Swimming Swimmer of the Year (2001, 2003 and 2004), the 2006 Golden Goggle Award, and the 2003 and 2007 FINA World Championships Male Swimmer of the Meet.

Michael Phelps
Tim Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Michael Phelps won eight Olympic medals at the 2004 Athens Games.

Personal


The son of Fred and Debbie Phelps, the swimming star grew up in Maryland before moving to Ann Arbor, Mich., to attend the University of Michigan. Phelps' coach, Bob Bowman, is the head coach of the Wolverines. His older sister Whitney was a member of the 1995 World Championship team. When he's not working out in the pool, Phelps spends time with his cat and his English bulldog, Herman, and enjoys playing video games and watching television and listening to hip-hop.
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