Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Michael Phelps
Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images & Videos
Michael Phelps smiles while wearing a black suit at the 2004 ESPYs awards, with people in the background. Michael Phelps and Milorad Cavic race side by side in the butterfly stroke during the men's 100-meter butterfly final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
Olympic medals hang against a blurry background.
Michael Phelps smiles and holds up his gold medal and four fingers while wearing a Team USA jacket at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games medal ceremony. Michael Phelps Ryan Lochte
At a Glance
default image
Michael Phelps summary
Quizzes
Silhouette of hand holding sport torch behind the rings of an Olympic flag, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; February 3, 2015.
The Olympics Quiz
Cricket bat and ball. cricket sport of cricket.Homepage blog 2011, arts and entertainment, history and society, sports and games athletics
Sports Quiz
Former U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program bobsledder Steven Holcomb, front, is greeted at the finish line after teaming with Justin Olsen, Steve Mesler and Curtis Tomasevicz to win the first Olympic bobsleigh gold medal in 62 years for Team USA ,(cont)
The Olympic Games
Usain Bolt of Jamaica reacts after breaking the world record with a time of 19.30 to win the gold medal as Churandy Martina (left) of Netherlands Antilles and Brian Dzingai of Zimbabwe come in after him in the Men's 200m Final at the National Stadium during Day 12 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 20, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Summer Olympics, track and field, athletics)
I Am the Greatest (Athlete)
Assorted sports balls including a basketball, football, soccer ball, tennis ball, baseball and others.
American Sports Nicknames
Related Questions
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Britannica Websites
Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
Michael Phelps smiles while wearing a black suit at the 2004 ESPYs awards, with people in the background.
Michael Phelps American swimmer Michael Phelps at the 2004 ESPY Awards ceremony.

Michael Phelps

American swimmer
Also known as: Michael Fred Phelps II
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
Last updated
‱History

Michael Phelps (born June 30, 1985, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.) is an American swimmer, who is the most-decorated athlete in Olympic history with 28 medals, which include a record 23 gold. At the 2008 Games in Beijing, he became the first athlete to win eight gold medals at a single Olympics. Phelps was raised in a family of swimmers and joined the prestigious North Baltimore Aquatic Club at age seven. He finished fifth in the 200-meter...

Discover the world with Britannica

Subscribe to Continue Reading

Free Trial | No Ads | Exclusive Content
Explore Subscriptions
DNA
Right
Mobile