U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps is now the top Olympic gold medal winner of all time. Phelps won his fourteenth gold medal on August 17, 2008, in the 400-meter medley relay.
Finishing with eight gold medals in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing China, Michael surpassed Mark Spitz as the most successful swimmer and Olympian of all time.
Phelps broke Mark Spitz’s 36 year-old record for most gold medals at a single Olympic games, set in 1972 in Munich.
Michael Fred Phelps (born June 30, 1985 in Baltimore, Maryland) is an American swimmer who holds world records in several events. Phelps won eight medals (six gold, two bronze) at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, which tied the record for most medals at one Olympics.
As a result of his swimming dominance, he’s been named World Swimmer of the Year in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007 and American Swimmer of the Year in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007.
In 1999, Michael earned a spot on the U.S. National B Team. At the Junior Nationals, he broke a record in the 200-meter butterfly for the 20-year-old age group. Michael’s ascent through the U.S. swimming ranks accelerated in 2000.
At 15, Michael became the youngest swimmer to compete for the U.S. in the Olympics in 68 years.
{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
Janet 08.16.08 at 10:33 am
Michael Phelps is just plain incredible. I am amazed at his talent, poise and maturity. He has so much pressure to deliver the eight gold medals but handles it all so well.
I wish Michael luck in today’s final relay race and hope he wins his record breaking eighth gold medal.
Tom Silvers 08.17.08 at 9:27 am
Michael Phelps, I tip my hat to you. What you have accomplished is incredible. You made the entire world proud of your accomplishments – 8 gold medals.
krutarth 08.26.08 at 3:24 pm
Hi my name is krutarth mehta i want to learn how to swim better. can you give me some tips on swiming. how do you flip in the water before you go back. and can you tell me how do you hold your breath when you swim front words.
therese mary 09.26.08 at 8:01 am
your one of my idols since i was 10 years old since i knew u now i’m eleven and i’m trying to learn the butterfly
vivicia 02.02.09 at 3:26 pm
u let me down when i heard u’ll lost all ur goldmedals
Catherine 02.02.09 at 4:37 pm
omg,
How could you even think about smoking marijuana when you know so many children look up to you? That is just plain crazy! I don’t understand you Michael, i just don’t understand!
Kristin 02.03.09 at 3:22 pm
I would like to know one person on this blog who has never made a mistake or did something they regreted. Michael, you are still a great roll model for kids and adults alike. I have made plenty of mistakes in my life, I learned from them and moved on, leave Michael to do the same. He made a mistake.
shabam 02.03.09 at 3:38 pm
I think it was perfectly fine for him to toke it up just a little bit, whether it was once or a billion times, it shows he isn’t the perfect little 23 year old everyone thought he was, but that doesn’t make him any less great.. He is a role model in so many ways.
Maitee 02.03.09 at 5:49 pm
Dear Michael to be totaly honest i realy dont care if u smoke marijuana or not the only thing that i do not agre on is leting those pictures out in public because what ever u do with your life is your problem, but u are supose to be a role model .
CharlieO 02.04.09 at 10:37 am
While I do believe you have made some mistakes, I see no reason to destroy your promising endorsement career. Nor do I think the linch mob questioning your medals or future swimming career has the answer. You won, fair and square and performance enhancing drugs are not in question.
Lord knows we all have made mistakes. From the Pope to the greatest Olympic superstar, there is no perfect human being. It is how we handle our mistakes that really matter.
Let’s not kid ourselves, world. Young people now days know all about alcohol and drugs. It is how we educate them and set examples that makes the difference. A wonderful example you can set for our young people Michael, other than your tremendous accomplishments in the pool, would to always be truthful, admit your mistakes, correct them, learn from the experience and move on.
Nobody ever acheives respect or the admiration of others by running away from anything. The person(s) on your payroll that made the decission to try and buy you out of that photo being printed should be fired. They did not do the right thing and clearly do not have your best interest at heart.
Remember to “always do the right thing next and always do the next thing right.” Do that in your life and you will be just fine. I am behind you and wish you all things good.
Michelle 02.04.09 at 7:48 pm
people are all looking up to your talent and then i saw one scolding u for smoking weed.
everyone smokes weed, honestly. so i dont think it’s a big whoop.
yeh, all im saying.
PS. u have a rockin bod man.
dombredos domestos nomos 02.05.09 at 6:29 am
Come on people, he snatched 8-eight! gold man. that’s so cool. Why do you all look for a perfect role model anyways? Look within yourself
sam edwards. 02.05.09 at 5:52 pm
i think its about time someone famous stood up for the decisions that they made. being 17, i know that there are too many “role models” for teenagers to look up to these days. most depict an image that is unhealthy to manage. so what if michael phelps smoked pot? in my opinion, it shows that he isn’t afraid to have a good time. thank you, michael phelps, for showing teenagers all around the world that you can be something great despite the not-so-great decisions you make in life.
Bonnie 02.05.09 at 8:44 pm
He also received a DUI. Role Model, really?
mrgreen 02.06.09 at 12:04 pm
“”Bonnie 02.05.09 at 8:44 pm
He also received a DUI. Role Model, really?”"”"
________________________________
I suppose that you are the perfect one among us? And all the rest of you throwing the first stones, are you sure you’re qualified to do that?
Romogarwo 02.06.09 at 2:06 pm
People expect too much from him. It is all about money and contract, but he has his own life journey. He lives and anything can happen to him. We all do .. no one’s perfect, but life with so many colours, ups and downs, make him perfect.
vanessa 02.06.09 at 10:26 pm
Who did his Olympic tatoo on his waist? I wish I was that lucky person.
marian 02.13.09 at 10:18 am
First, I have to say that this man is absolutely gorgeous! His body is pure, delicious perfection. Second, regardless of whether or not he smoked pot at some party, that doesn’t take away one iota of the hard work, sweat, and steadfast determination it took him to win those eight Golds and dominate the Olympic Games. Michael Phelps IS a role model and a winner, and I should only be so lucky and proud if my sons were to grow up to accomplish even one-eighth of what he accomplished in 2008. ROCK ON, MICHAEL!! AMERICA LOVES YOU!!!
Julie 03.25.09 at 2:08 pm
Michael,
You are my biggest idol. I admit i had no idea who you were until Sydney, and even then, I didn’t know much. But every four years after that, my excitement for the Olympics grew, (mostly just to watch you). I have all your photos from Sports Illustrated on my wall, I bought the book that has all of your Sports Illustrated articles, and you are the background picture on my phone (: I also love to swim and could only dream to be as amazing as you! I have to say I was disappointed about the whole pot smoking thing, but I have continued to back you up even when my friends give me crap about having a “pot-head” as my idol. Michael, you have a gift, and you have done things no one else ever has. You are dedicated, motivated, and determined, I could only wish to meet you one day, just to shake your hand. The hand of the greatest Olympian of all time, and my idol.
Keep it up!
Julie
heidi sullivan 04.30.09 at 5:59 pm
Michael Phelps is my hero . I wish I`m as good as him.
Daniela 05.12.09 at 11:09 am
You are so good at swimming. I LOVE You so much
Poline 06.04.09 at 1:05 am
Hi Michael,
How I wish my son would be like you, a great swimmer. He is 13 years old and his coach would call him “Turbo” because of his swimming style.
Love you,
Mariam 06.15.09 at 11:49 pm
I am Mariam from Egypt. Swimmers here in all ages takes you as their idol in everything. So we really love you and don’t be mad from the t.v reports. I will say to them (no body is perfect) so if anyone talks about you, then they must talk about every champion who makes a mistake even worse than you.
You are free. They don’t own you. My age is 15 and my best record in 200 fly is 2.26.51. Is that good as your swimmers (American swimmers) in that age? I hope you can answer me. I love you so much. You are my hero
tyri 06.28.09 at 6:33 pm
I love the way you swim so fast. Its cool because I swim fast but not like you.
kayla 07.15.09 at 10:05 am
People make mistakes. I don’t really think what he did was a mistake.People can have fun if they want too. Besides that, all of the good things he has accomplished out weigh that one bad thing, so I think everybody should just cut him a break. He is amazing, and that’s all that matters.
wendy 08.05.09 at 6:05 pm
A mi me parece que Michael es el mejor nadador de todos los tiempos y se me hizo muy malo que perdiera una medalla en el mundial de natacion en Roma porque si se dieron cuenta el aleman gano por su traje de baño´porque Michael iba a ganar e iba a imponer un record sin usar un traje con mucha tecnologia.
tom 09.06.09 at 1:48 pm
I love the way you swim so fast. Its cool because I swim fast but not like you.
prachi jadhav 12.23.09 at 1:37 pm
he hi!! i m ur gr8 fan..actually i m also so health conticious and i just love swimming.. i do swimming daily around for one hour and i can finish 50m lap in 4o sec..i just want tips from u to increase ma stamina.. thax u r just gr8 man u hav fantastic physique.. god bless you and all d best for your future.
Ben Thomas 03.01.10 at 8:06 pm
You inspire me every day when I am at swim practice. You rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chris Why 08.07.10 at 5:00 pm
Michael, I don’t consider your pot smoking as wrong. I bet that at least half of your critics raised a glass of beer, wine, or spirits to their mouths while writing their critical reviews of you. Including me. And I know that none of them have toped your record of accomplishment. I write to you and your fans/critics/etc in praise. You have shown the world that smoking pot does not prevent someone from being a true champion. Smoke up, if you want to. It’s not harming anyone, and you have shown that it does not prevent someone from being an all-time champion.
I personally know an athlete that places well in Iron Man every time and parties his butt off off-season, including smoking pot. It is time for the world to realize that pot is not the great evil it is made out to be. F***, people! The greatest Olympian ever smoked pot. The President of the USA smoked pot. At least one (if not almost all) of the originators of one of the most successful computer companies smoked pot. Cops, judges, and lawyers smoke pot. Carl Sagan smoked pot. Get the heck over it, people! It was not a mistake on Michael’s part, it was a WORLD CHAMPION enjoying life.
I rarely smoke pot any more, but it makes me angry to see pot and its users vilified when some of them, past or present, are the world’s most powerful and successful people. Get a grip. Smoke a joint. Become a world leader in one way or another. These are not incompatible, as many leaders today have shown. Rock on, Michael. And take a bong hit if you want to. Ain’t nuthin wrong with that. I don’t buy from the sponsors who dropped you. I boycott them.