Early Life
Phelps began swimming at age seven and made his first Olympic team at 15 for the 2000 Sydney Games.
Career
He won six gold medals at Athens 2004 and a record eight golds at Beijing 2008, surpassing Mark Spitz's seven at a single Games. He added four golds at London 2012 and five golds and a silver at Rio 2016.
Legacy
After retiring, Phelps became an advocate for mental health awareness and founded the Michael Phelps Foundation.
Sources and further reading
Last updated: 2026-09-24