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Michael PhelpsAthlete Card | Olympics Swimming Medal TrackerPhelps 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. |
Memorable Moments: 2008 Beijing Olympics
Hi-res photos from all the exciting Olympic action, from Michael Phelps eight golds to Usain Bolt's three world records
Photo | Conversation | August 22, 2008Swimming into History: Michael Phelps Quest For Eight Gold Medals
Hi-res photos of Michael Phelps record-setting performance in Beijing, inside ESPN's ZOOM Gallery
Photo | Conversation | August 16, 2008The Closest Race: Michael Phelps vs. Milorad Cavic
Hi-res photos of the 100M butterfly race that Phelps won by just a hair, tying Spitz's record for most golds in one Olympic games
Photo | Conversation | August 15, 2008Different Strokes: Breaking Down Michael Phelps
Hi-res photos from the 2008 Olympics analyzing each of Phelps' different strokes, inside ESPN's ZOOM Gallery
Photo | Conversation | August 07, 2008
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/Rob Carr
Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps, right, sits with his mother Debbie, while attending a "Star-Spangled Salute" to Phelps and Maryland...
Photo | October 05, 2008
AP Photo/Rob Carr
Michael Phelps, winner of eight gold medals in the Beijing Olympics, smiles while holding a box of cereal...
Photo | September 25, 2008
Martin/US Presswire
...Summer Olympics . The US team set a world record, handing Phelps his eighth gold medal of the Beijing Olympics. Pictured L-R: Brendan Hansen, Michael Phelps, Aaron Peirsol, and Jason Lezak
Photo | September 16, 2008
ESPN.com Illustration
Michael Phelps is set to host "Saturday Night Live" this weekend
Photo | September 11, 2008
AP Photo/M. Spencer Green
Olympic men's swimming gold medalist Michael Phelps and his mother Debbie Phelps arrive for the taping of the season premiere of "The Oprah...
Photo | September 03, 2008
AP Photo/Disney, David Roark
In this image released by Disney, Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps waves to the crowd, Friday, Aug. 29, 2008, during a parade at the Magic Kingdom in...
Photo | August 29, 2008
AP Images
Olympic handover celebrations.U.S. swimmer and Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps greets the crowd during a Olympics handover party outside Buckingham Palace in central London. Issue date...
Photo | August 28, 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
Chris Trotman/Getty Images
NEW YORK - AUGUST 28: Michael Phelps a 14-time Olympic gold medalist signs autographs for fans before appearing on CBS The Early...
Photo | August 28, 2008EXPLORE RELATED TOPICS
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