Michael Phelps II

Winning the Gold Medal

Milestones in History:

Michael Phelps is a modern day swimming legend. He was born on June 30, 1985 in Baltimore, Maryland. He started his swimming career by attending the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. He was the youngest male swimmer at the Olympics in 68 years. He broke the record for the 200 m butterfly at age 15 and 9 months, the youngest male swimmer to break a record. He broke his own record again at the World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan with a time of 1:54.58. At the 2002 Summer Nationals in Fort Lauderdale, He also broke the world record for the 400 m IM (individual medley) and set American marks in he 100m butterfly and 200 m IM. In 2003, Phelps broke his own record in the 400 m IM (4:09.09) and in June , he broke the world record in the 200 m IM. Then on July 7, 2004, He broke his own world record again in the 400 m IM (4:08.41) during the U.S. trials for the 2004 Summer Olympics.

2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece:

During the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Phelps, nicknamed the Baltimore Bullet, raced to break Mark Spitz's record of 7 gold medals at the 1972 Olympic Games. He tied Mark's record of 4 individual medals by winning four himself. Phelps had the chance to break Spitz's record of 7 total gold medals by competing in 8 swimming events: the 200 m freestyle, the 100 m butterfly, the 200 m butterfly, the 200 m individual medley, the 400 m individual medley, the 4x100 m freestyle relay, 4x200 m freestyle relay, and the 4x100 m medley relay. Unluckily, his 4x100 m freestyle relay only won the bronze medal and he personally came third in the 200 m freestyle. So he fell short of that record. But, he still won 8 medals: 6 gold and 2 bronze. Had he won 7 gold medals, he would have a 1 million dollar sponsorship from Speedo. Though, he would have a chance to get it at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Accomplishments at the 2004 Olympics:

On August 14, 2004, Phelps won his first Olympic gold, in the 400 m IM with a time of 4:08.26. On August 20 his 200 m freestyle final was broken by Ian Thorpe. That race was called the "Race of the Century." On August 20, in the 100 m Butterfly final, Phelps defeated his teammate Ian Crocker, who holds the record for the event, by just 0.04 seconds. Usually, the highest placer will compete in the medley relay, but Phelps declined and Ian and his team went on the win the final. Phelps was awarded a gold medal too because he competed in the preliminary round of the medley.

Personal Life:

Phelps grew up in the Rodgers Forge neighborhood in Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated from Townson High School on 2003. As of 2007, Phelps is studying at the University of Michigan, intending to major in sports marketing or sports management. Phelps followed his long time coach, Bob Bowman, to Ann Arbor. Bowman left Phelps' previous swim team, the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, to become head coach of the University of Michigan varsity swim team. Phelps is a volunteer assistant coach to the team, but cannot swim on the team because of his loss of amateur status. Phelps, along with Ian Crocker and Lenny Krayzelburg, founded the "Swim with the Stars" program. This program promotes swimming and conducts camps for swimmers of all ages.

Michael Phelps In the Pool

Michael Phelps is my hero because he inspires me when I am at swim practice. I look up to him and hope to compete in the Olympic Games one day.