Biography of Michael Phelps

He seems to have an unending thirst for success. His exceptional abilities have no bounds. Winning is almost like a habit for this talented personality. I am speaking about the one and only, Michael Phelps, who has wowed people the world over with his current winning streak. Presently, with 8 medals to his credit at the Summer Olympics, 2008 (Beijing, China), this young swimmer has surely given a whole new dimension to this sport. Michael Phelps is no ordinary person; his extraordinary feats have earned him a special place in the hearts of millions across the globe. Let's take a quick look at his career with this biography of Michael Phelps.

Biography of Michael Phelps:
This American swimmer nicknamed MP, was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland to his father, Fred Phelps and mother, Debbie Phelps. He celebrates his birthday on June 30th. His parents divorced in the year 1994. This ’85 born lad’s first association with swimming was probably due to his sisters, Whitney and Hilary, who were also excellent swimmers. Bob Bowman trained Michael Phelps during the latter’s teenage years. Therefore, young Phelps, at the mere age of 15, competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics held at Sydney. Although Phelps, did not win a medal, he was renowned the world over as the youngest male American swimmer at the Olympics.

Phelps was often encouraged by his sisters to swim. During his early years, this talented swimmer was diagnosed with ADHD – Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. This is generally observed during the childhood - the very years of growth. Despite all the hindrances in his early childhood, Michael Phelps overcame all these obstacles and showed exceptional skills as a swimmer. He soon tasted success when he broke the world record in the 200 m butterfly race and earned fame as one of the youngest (15 years and 9 months) to hold this record ever. He soon broke his own records in others events such as the World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan and the Summer Nationals held in 2002 at Fort Lauderdale.

The extraordinary feats of Michael Phelps brought him in the league of seniors such as Mark Spitz. Michael moved on to tie Mark’s record of 4 gold medals in individual events. He won his first Olympic Gold on August 14, 2004 where he set a new world record. He raced ahead in the 100 m butterfly final on August 20, 2004, to defeat Ian Crocker by 0.04 seconds.

Phelps then won 6 medals in the 2005 World Championships. Here, he took home 5 gold and 1 silver. In the 2007 World Championships, he won 7 gold medals. This was also the time when Michael Phelps broke 5 world records.

Currently, Michael Phelps has represented the United States at the 2008 Summer Olympics. With a stupendous win in 8 categories, Michael Phelps currently ranks as one of the most sought-after swimmers. His estimated earning through endorsements stand at a whopping $5 million annually. This year, Phelps broke his own world record by 2 seconds. He also holds 32 world records since August 2008, which is close to Mark Spitz’s world record of 33.

His Current feats at the 2008 Summer Olympics (Beijing):

• On August 10th he won the gold medal (world record) for the 400 m individual medley. (Time: 4:03.84)
• On August 11th, he won the gold medal (world record) in the 4 x 100 m freestyle relay. (Time: 3:08.24)
• On August 12th, he won the gold medal (world record) in the 200 m freestyle. (Time: 1:42.96)
• On August 13th, he won the gold medal (world record) in the 200 m butterfly (Time: 1:52.03). He also won a gold medal for the 4 x 200 m (world record) freestyle relay the same day (Time: 6:58.56).
• This was followed by a gold medal (world record) on August 15th for the 200 m individual medley. (Time: 1:54.23)
• On August 16th, he won the gold medal (Olympic record) for the 100 m butterfly. (Time: 50.58)
• On August 17th, he bagged the gold medal (world record) for the 4 x 100 m medley relay. (Time: 3:29.34)

Phelps' extraordinary swimming skills are partly due to his unusual torso. His long and lean body (6 feet 4 inches) combined with arms that span to 6 feet 7 inches have proven to be a blessing in disguise for this young and vibrant personality. Yet another factor that helps him to swim exceptionally well are his short legs, which enhance the speed when he travels through the water. While his lean body helps him to swim more efficiently, his large feet (Size 14) help him to propel his body faster through water.

Apart from his interests in swimming, the 23-year-old has a love for rap music and his favorite movie is ‘Austin Powers’. Phelps currently resides in Ann Arbor, MI. This tall, young man sure has found a place in the hearts of many. With his current winning streak, he has definitely left his fans asking for more!