Michael Phelps
American swimmer · United States · On the map · Athletes · Born 1985 · age 41
He won 28 Olympic medals - more than any athlete in history - including 23 golds across five Games. The numbers alone made him a story, but it was the Beijing sweep in 2008, eight golds in eight events, that turned him into something closer to myth.
Michael Phelps is read about 3,237 times a day, in 100 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 8 November 2026
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Phelps in 2002
Victory lap of the 100 m butterfly during the 2005 FINA World Championships in Montréal. Phelps is far right.
Phelps holds his gold medal on the podium on August 10, 2008. Pictured with Ryan Lochte and László Cseh.
Phelps (in black cap) starting the 4 × 100 m relay at the Beijing Olympic Games, August 11, 2008
Michael Phelps celebrates with his teammates after winning his 8th gold medal.
Phelps (center) before the start of the 200-meter butterfly semi-final during 2009 FINA World Championships
In his 100m butterfly heat, Phelps (fourth from top) was 8th at the 50m split before winning his heat and qualifying for the semi-finalsAwards
About this person
Born June 30, 1985, Phelps came up through the pool and broke through at Athens in 2004 with six golds and two bronzes, tying the record for most medals at a single Games. Four years later in Beijing he shattered Mark Spitz's 1972 mark by taking eight golds in eight tries. He held world records in five events and racked up 82 medals across all major international meets. After 2008 he launched a foundation to grow swimming and promote healthier living, then retired following London 2012. He came back in April 2014, and at Rio 2016 - his fifth Olympics - carried the U.S. flag and added five more golds and a silver before retiring for good in August 2016, his medal count higher than 161 countries. He won Laureus World Comeback of the Year in 2017 and is widely held to be the greatest swimmer, and one of the greatest athletes, of all time.
