Last Updated on March 1, 2024
Who is Michael Phelps?
Michael Phelps is widely regarded as the greatest and most decorated Olympian of all time. Although people may argue that Usain Bolt or Nadia Comaneci have a legitimate claim to this title, it becomes crystal clear who truly is the greatest Olympian of all time regarding the sheer amount of medals won: Michael Phelps.
Even though Phelps competes in a sport where exceptionally talented athletes can win gold medals over various distances and strokes, his achievements nevertheless dwarf those of any other competitor. Michael Phelps, a renowned American swimmer, has the most Olympic medals of any athlete with 28, including 23 gold medals and 13 individual golds.
At 15, Phelps competed in his first Olympics as the United States men’s swim squad member. He was a prodigy in his sport as he was the youngest man in the USA team for an Olympic Games event in over 60 years when he went to Sydney in 2000. Only in the 200m butterfly, where he finished sixth, did he come close to making the podium.
He also dominated the next four games, finishing as the most decorated athlete in each of them. At 28, he became the first American male swimmer to gain a position on five Olympic teams and the oldest individual gold medallist in Olympic swimming history.
He won six gold and two bronze medals in Athens, coming just shy of Mark Spitz’s world record, already set at seven golds at Munich 1972. Michael Phelps had started to prove himself good at what he does from a very young age. As a result, it wasn’t hard for Phelps to succeed in athletics.
Quick Facts
Full Name: | Michael Fred Phelps II |
Popular Name: | Michael Phelps |
Gender: | Male |
Birth Date: | June 30, 1985 |
Age: | 37 years |
Parents: | Mother-Deborah Sue Phelps; Father- Michael Fred Phelps |
Siblings: | Whitney Phelps, Hillary Phelps |
Birth Place: | Baltimore, Maryland, U.S |
Nationality: | American |
Ethnicity: | English, German, Irish, Scottish, and Welsh |
Education: | Towson High School, University of Michigan |
Marital Status: | Married |
Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
Wife/Spouse: | Nicole Johnson |
Children: | Boomer Robert Phelps, Beckett Richard Phelps, Maverick Nicolas Phelps |
Dating: | N/A |
Net Worth: | $80 Million |
Source of Wealth: | Athletics, Endorsement deals |
Height: | 6ft4 (1.93 m) |
Weight: | 88 kg (194 lbs) |
Early Life and Career Information
Born on June 30, 1985, Phelps lived in Baltimore and became passionate about swimming after joining the North Baltimore Aquatic Club. After his parents divorced, he was raised by his mother, Deborah, and sisters Hilary and Whitney. Michael Phelps had started swimming at a very young age under the training of the prestigious ??b ??wm?n.
However, Phelps’ life has not been without controversies like every other celebrity athlete. In 2004, he was arrested in a Drunk and Drive case, for which he was sentenced to an 18-month probationary period. Also, five years later, a photograph of Phelps using a b?ng w?nt vir?l, which resulted in his losing his job/endorsement with the Kellogg Company.
Also, ten years after the first drunk driving incident, he was arrested for the same offense and suspended from USA’s swimming team for an additional six months. As a result, he couldn’t take part in the 2015, which came as a shock to his fans.
Phelps also plays for the North Baltimore Aquatic Club and represents the United States at World Championships and the Olympics. Michael Phelps’s swimming styles are the backstroke, butterfly stroke, individual medley, and freestyles sometimes.
The world stood still in 2012 when Michael Phelps suddenly announced his retirement. However, this announcement was quenched with a comeback in 2014, where Phelps won three gold medals in the Pan Pacific Championship.
Additionally, there have been numerous occasions where Phelp has been accused of using drugs. However, these claims have continually been rebutted.
What Is Michael Phelps’ Net Worth?
As we have seen above, Michael Phelps is a talented athlete. At a young age, he put in the work, and this work showed promise and subsequently became rewarding. It is little wonder that Michael Phelps Networth stands at a whopping sum of $80 million even after retirement.
Lessons from the Life of Michael Phelps
Avoid Societal Vices
One of the most important lessons to be picked from Michael Phelps’s life is that he started working hard at a young age. Phelps did not give room for the prevalent distractions facing youths nowadays. A famous example of this distraction is drugs.
Partying can be done in moderation as all work, and no play makes Jack a dull boy. However, the keyword in the above sentence is moderation.
White-Collar Professions Are Not The Only Way To Success
There is a widespread stereotype that the only way to be extremely rich in this day and age is by being a doctor, lawyer, engineer, or any other profession in this sphere. However, getting rich from the most unorthodox legal means is becoming increasingly in vogue.
Most athletes in every part of the world who ended up being successful prove that diligence in almost anything you do can make you a huge success.