Michael phelps net worth
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Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps is one his generation's most accomplished athletes. In August of 2016, after a record-shattering career, including 28 Olympic medals (23 of them gold), Phelps announced his retirement from competitive swimming.
How do you make a gold-medalist out of an ordinary kid from Baltimore? Here is a look at Michael Phelps' story, from his childhood in Maryland to his celebrated moments in the international spotlight.
Swimming beginnings
Born in 1985, Baltimore native Phelps began swimming at age 7, inspired, he has said, by his two sisters. The sport was a good way for him to channel his energy--at nine years-old, Phelps was diagnosed with ADHD.
A few years later, coach Bob Bowman spotted Phelps swimming at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club. Bowman told Phelps’ parents that Michael had a gift for the sport, and had the potential to make it to the Olympics. Bowman has been Phelps’ coach ever since.
Making history at 15
By the time he was 15, Phelps was already making history, qualifying for the 2000 Sydney
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Michael Phelps
Who Is Michael Phelps?
Michael Phelps is an American swimmer who holds the record for the most Olympics medals won by any athlete at 28, including 23 gold medals and 13 individual golds. Phelps competed in his first Olympics at the age of 15, as part of the U.S. men's swim team. He was the first American male swimmer to earn a spot on five Olympic teams and also made history as the oldest individual gold medalist in Olympic swimming history at the age of 28.
Early Life and Family
Michael Fred Phelps was born on June 30, 1985, in Baltimore, Maryland. The youngest of three children, Phelps grew up in the neighborhood of Rodgers Forge. His father, Fred, an all-around athlete, was a state trooper and his mother, Debbie, was a middle-school principal. When Phelps' parents divorced in 1994, he and his sisters lived with their mother, with whom Phelps grew very close.
Phelps began swimming when his two older sisters, Whitney (born 1978) and Hilary (born 1980), joined a local swim team. Whitney tried out for the U.S. Olympic team in 1996, but injuries dera
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Why Michael Phelps Has the Perfect Body for Swimming
Michael Phelps is one of the most decorated athletes of all time. As the first Olympic swimmer to earn a spot on five Olympic teams and one of the oldest individual swimmer to earn Olympic gold, he earned himself the nickname the “Flying Fish.”
What gives? Top performers in certain sports tend to have the same build of body, whether they’re gymnasts, football players, or swimmers. Phelps might have all of the physical advantages of an elite swimmer—and more.
Here are a few reasons why Phelps has the perfect body for swimming.
Phelps has a very long torso and “short” legs
Swimmers tend to have longer torsos and shorter legs than the average person. Standing at 6 feet 4 inches, Phelps has the torso of a man who’s 6 feet 8 inches tall—and the legs of a man 8 inches shorter.
This disproportionately large chest enables Phelps to power himself through the water. It also means his legs produce less drag (or water resistance) with each stroke.
His wingspan is longer than his height
Michael Phelps competes in the final
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