What We Learned About U.S. Swimmers At The World Championships
U.S. swimmers led all counties with 38 medals over eight days of competition in Fukuoka, Japan.
23
GOLD
3
SILVER
2
BRONZE
Athlete Bio
Height
6'4"
Birthday
Jun 30, 1985
Hometown
Towson, MD
Education
Towson High School (Towson, Md.) ’03 University of Michigan
Son of Fred and Debbie Phelps. Has two older sisters, Hilary and Whitney. Engaged to Nicole Johnson, who was named Miss California in 2010. With Johnson, welcomed his first son, Boomer Robert, in May 2016. Started the Michael Phelps Foundation to grow the sport of swimming and promote healthy lifestyles. Wingspan is a disproportionate six feet, seven inches and his shoe size is a 14. Named 2008 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year. Co-authored a book with Sports Illustrated’s Brian Cazeneuve, “Michael Phelps Beneath the Surface,” which was released in the fall of 2004. Works with Path Finders for Autism, Boys and Girls Club of America and has also volunteered motivating students in the Baltimore area school system. Hobbies include playing golf, football and video games..
Additional Career Highlights:
- With 28 medals – including 23 golds – Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time
- Became the first American male swimmer to qualify for five Olympic teams in June 2016
- In 2000, he became the youngest male Olympian since 1932 and his eight gold medals at the 2008 Olympic Games is an Olympic record
- During the Beijing Games, Phelps set seven world records, eight American records and eight Olympic records
His four individual world records and seven gold medals at the 2007 World Championships made him the winningest athlete in world championship history.
Olympic Experience
- Five-time Olympian (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016); 28-time Olympic medalist (23 golds, 3 silvers, 2 bronzes)
- Rio 2016 Olympic Games, gold (4x100m medley, 4x100m free, 200m fly, 4x200m free, 200m medley); silver (100m fly)
- London 2012 Olympic Games, gold (100m fly, 200m medley, 4x100m medley, 4x200m free); silver (200m fly, 4x100m free); 4th (400m medley)
- Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, gold (100m fly, 200m fly, 200m free, 200m medley, 400m medley, 4x100m free, 4x200m free, 4x100m medley)
- Athens 2004 Olympic Games, gold (100m fly, 200m fly, 200m medley, 400m medley, 4x200m free, 4x100m medley); bronze (200m free, 4x100m free)
- Sydney 2000 Games, 5th (200m fly)
- With 28 medals – including 23 golds – Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time
- Became the first American male swimmer to qualify for five Olympic teams in June 2016
- In 2000, he became the youngest male Olympian since 1932 and his eight gold medals at the 2008 Olympic Games is an Olympic record
- During the Beijing Games, Phelps set seven world records, eight American records and eight Olympic records
World Championship Experience
- Most recent: 2011 – gold (100m fly, 200m fly, 4x200m free, 4x100m medley); silver (200m free, 200m medley), bronze (4x100m free)
- Years of Participation: Long Course – 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011; Short Course – 2004
- Medals: 34 (27 golds, 6 silvers, 1 bronze)
- Gold – 2001 (200m fly); 2003 (200m fly, 200m medley, 400m medley, 4x100m medley); 2004 (200m free); 2005 (200m free, 200m medley, 4x100m medley, 4x100m free, 4x200m free); 2007 (100m fly, 200m fly, 200m free, 200m medley, 400m medley, 4x100m free, 4x200m free); 2009 (100m fly, 200m fly, 400m free, 800m free, 4x100m medley); 2011 (100m fly, 200m fly, 4x200m free, 4x100m medley)
- Silver – 2003 (100m fly, 4x200m free); 2005 (100m fly); 2009 (200m free); 2011 (200m free, 200m medley)
- Bronze – 2011 (4x100m free)
- His four individual world records and seven gold medals at the 2007 World Championships made him the winningest athlete in world championship history.