Michael Phelps: What you need to know
American most decorated Olympian in history
By Callum Ng, CBC Sports
Michael Phelps began as a young phenom back at Sydney 2000 and progressed to become the most decorated Olympian of all time. Some people even call him the greatest-ever Olympic champion in any sport.
Famous Moment
Where do we even begin? Through his first four Olympics, Phelps won 22 Olympic medals, including 18 gold. Rio 2016 is his fifth trip to the big show.
Phelps' most dominant Games was Beijing 2008, where he won eight gold medals, the most by any athlete in a single Games.
He said it...
Phelps retired after the London Olympics, then returned.
He said this at U.S. Olympic trials last month:
- "I came back because I wanted to. I wanted to do this for me. I'm enjoying the moment and I'm embracing the moment and taking it one step at a time."
- "Being able to fall in love with the sport again is something that I've always wanted to do again and I did it on my terms."
- Michael Phelps poised to succeed in final Olympics
- Michael Phelps determined to go out on his terms
What they're saying about him...
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"There's no better person than Michael to represent Team USA and it's just amazing, just everything that he's done in the sport of swimming and for the U.S.A." — Ryan Lochte
- "There were a lot of people that I looked up to in the sport. Michael Phelps, Natalie Coughlin just to name a few" — Katie Ledecky
Strengths
Phelps has unbelievable versatility for a swimmer. Where some great athletes will devote every training hour to one stroke (such as backstroke) or even event; Phelps is an Olympic champion in five individual events across the freestyle, butterfly, and individual medley.
Weaknesses
As an athlete, Phelps has struggled with his interest level in swimming, and this has affected him in training. He has often talked about the lead up to London 2012.
"I just didn't want to do it," he said of that time.
Fun Fact
Phelps is the youngest man (15 years, nine months) to break a swimming world record.
It was the 200-metres butterfly mark at 2001 U.S. spring nationals and Phelps has continued to lower it ever since.
Hometown
Baltimore, Md.
With files from Reuters