Michael Phelps Biography

Michael Phelps is a swimming sensation who's made sports history. The 19 year-old swimming star already holds five world records tied a record by winning eight gold medals in swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Keep reading for more on Olympic athlete, Michael Phelps.

Michael Phelps Biography - Michael's First Dip

Michael Phelps was born June 30, 1985 in Baltimore, Maryland and first started swimming at the age of five. At first, Phelps was scared to even put his face in the water but by the age of seven, he was swimming competitively. When he was 11, Michael Phelps met his long-time swimming coach, Bob Bowman, who knew right away that Phelps had what it took to be an exceptional athlete.

Michael Phelps Biography - Teenage Swimming Star

Michael Phelps made history by qualifying for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, when he was just 15 years old. By qualifying for the 2000 Olympics, Michael Phelps became the youngest member of the US Olympic team since 1932. Phelps finished fifth in the 200 meter butterfly and shattered the 15-16 National Age Group record. Five months after the Olympics, Phelps became the youngest world record holder in history by setting a new record in the 200 meter butterfly at the World Championships in Japan.

Michael Phelps Biography - How Many Gold Medals?

At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, Michael Phelps won eight medals - including six golds! If Phelps had won seven gold medals, he would have tied the record of Mark Spitz, and recieved a cool one-million dollars from his sponsor, Speedo. At the 2003 World Swimming Championships in Barcelona, Spain, Michael Phelps won five gold medals and set five world records. At the 2004 Olympics, Phelps competed in the 100m fly, 200m freestyle, 200m fly, 200m Individual Medley, the 400 IM and three US relay teams.

Michael Phelps Fun Facts

Michael Phelps needs to wolf down a lot of calories to have the energy for all his swimming. For breakfast, he often eats two egg-and-cheese sandwiches, a bowl of grits, a large omelet and a tall stack of chocolate chip pancakes.

Michael Phelps comes from a family of swimmers. His sister, Hilary, swam for the University of Richmond and his sister, Whitney, swam at the 1996 Olympic Swimming Trials.

Michael Phelps is a huge fan of rap music. Before a swimming practice or race, he usually listens to Biggie, Jay-Z, DMX or 50 Cent.

When Michael Phelps turned professional at the age of 16, he used some of his earnings to buy a 2000 Cadillac Escalade SUV, which he loves driving and modifying. The vehicle is now equipped with a flat screen TV above the dashboard, two TVs in the back seats, an Xbox under the backseat, a touch screen DVD player and 15-inch subwoofers. Nice ride...

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