The Baltimore Bullet as nicknamed for his incisiveness in water was born on June 30, 1985 in Baltimore, USA. He dived in water at a very young age. In the beginning he was afraid to even dip his face in the water and this hesitancy made him master the backstroke.

Phelps joined training under Bob Bowman at Baltimore aquatic club at the age of 13, where he skilled the toughest stroke in water- The Butterfly stroke. His first big competition came at the age of 15 when he swam in 2000 Summer Olympics held in Sydney, to become the youngest American male swimmer in 68 years, but failed to reckon as a force in aquatics. He came fifth in 200 m butterfly competition.

His recognition in the pool arrived during the World Championship in the spring of 2001, when he became the youngest male swimmer to set a world record, over shadowing the previous record in the 200 m butterfly. He won his first medal with an exemplary time of 1:54.58s to achieve the feat at Fukuoka, Japan.

Before going to the Athens Olympic 2004, Phelps became a media sensation around the world. With the hype to beat Spitzs record of seven gold medals at the Munich Olympic in 1972, Phelps competed in eight separate events. His stroke to over-shadow Spitz was nearly accomplished, but Crokers poor performance in 4 x 100 freestyle relay resulted a bronze medal.

His amazing performance earned him six gold medals at the game and collectively he notched up eight medals equalizing the previous record of most medals set by Aleksandr Dityatin in 1980.

Achievements:

• Medal record - Olympic
  Games-2004 Athens

Men's Swimming

• Gold- 100 m butterfly
  
• Gold- 200 m butterfly
  
• Gold- 200 m individual medley
  
• Gold- 400 m individual medley
  
• Gold- 4 x 200 m freestyle relay
  
• Gold- 4 x 100 m medley relay
• Bronze- 200 m freestyle
• Bronze- 4 x 100 m freestyle relay
  

World Championships - Long Course 2001 Fukuoka
• Gold- 200 m butterfly
  

2003 Barcelona
• Gold 200 m butterfly
• Gold 200 m individual medley
• Gold 400 m individual medley
• Gold 4 x 100 m medley relay
• Silver 100 m butterfly
• Silver 4 x 200 m freestyle relay

2005 Montreal

• Gold 200 m freestyle
• Gold 200 m individual medley
• Gold 4 x 100 m freestyle relay
• Gold 4 x 200 m freestyle relay
• Gold 4 x 100 m medley relay
• Silver 100 m butterfly

World Championships - Short Course 2004 Indianapolis
• Gold 200 m freestyle
  

2007 Melbourne

• Gold 200 m freestyle
• Gold 100 m butterfly
• Gold 200 m butterfly
• Gold 200 m individual medley
• Gold 400 m individual medley
• Gold 4 x 100 m freestyle relay
• Gold 4 x 200 m freestyle relay
  
  

Pan Pacific Championships 2002
Yokohama
• Gold 200 m individual medley
• Gold 400 m individual medley
• Gold 4 x 100 m medley relay
• Silver 200 m backstroke
• Silver 4 x 200 m freestyle relay
• 2006 Victoria
• Gold 200 m butterfly
• Gold 200 m individual medley
• Gold 400 m individual medley
• Gold 4 x 100 m freestyle relay
• Gold 4 x 200 m freestyle relay
• Silver 200 m backstroke