Michael Phelps

Athlete Card | Olympics Swimming Medal Tracker

Phelps first took to the pool at the age of 7 and was undoubtedly influenced by his two elder sisters, including Whitney, who competed at the U.S. Olympic trials in 1996. At 15 he was the youngest male American since 1932 to take part in the Olympics, where he finished a very respectable fifth in the 200 butterfly. Just a year later he bagged his first world championship gold in the 200 butterfly, adding another three golds in the 200 and 400 medley and the 4x100 medley. The 6-foot-4 Baltimore native won three gold and two silver medals breaking five world records in the process.

Now, at just 23 years old, Phelps has won eight gold medals in Beijing and become the most successful single-Games Olympian of all time. He is also the most decorated gold medalist in Olympic history with 14 career gold medals.

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Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images

US winner of eight swimming gold medals Michael Phelps (R) attends a photocall for the Speedo Athlete Media Day during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games...

Photo | October 06, 2008

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill/Donna McWilliam/Tom Mihalek

United States' Michael Phelps kisses his gold medal at the medal ceremony for the men's 4x100-meter freestyle relay...

Photo | August 28, 2008

Nick Laham/Getty Images

BEIJING - AUGUST 16: (L-R) Milorad Cavic of Serbia and Michael Phelps of the United States reach for the wall in the Men's 100m Butterfly Final held...

Photo | August 18, 2008

Bob Thomas/Getty Images

BEIJING - AUGUST 16: Michael Phelps of the United States celebrates victory in the Men's 100m Butterfly Final held at the...

Photo | August 16, 2008

AP Photo/Nati Harnik

This Friday, June 27, 2008 file photo shows Michael Phelps as he speaks in Omaha, Neb., during a news conference ahead of the Olympic swim trials...

Photo | August 06, 2008