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<v Speaker 1>Michael Fred Phelps the Second was born on June thirtieth,

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<v Speaker 1>nineteen eighty five, in Baltimore, Maryland. The youngest of three children,

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<v Speaker 1>Phelps grew up in a household where swimming was a

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<v Speaker 1>way of life. His mother, Debbie, was a middle school principal,

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<v Speaker 1>while his father, Fred was a state trooper. From an

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<v Speaker 1>early age, it was clear that Phelps possessed an extraordinary

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<v Speaker 1>talent for swimming, coupled with boundless energy that his parents

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<v Speaker 1>sought to channel productively. At the tender age of seven,

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<v Speaker 1>Phelps began his swimming journey, partly inspired by his older sisters,

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<v Speaker 1>who were already involved in the sport. However, it was

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<v Speaker 1>more than just following in his siblings footsteps. Phelps found

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<v Speaker 1>solace in the water. Diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

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<v Speaker 1>ADHD as a child, he discovered that swimming provided a

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<v Speaker 1>unique outlet for his excess energy and helped him focus.

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<v Speaker 1>Under the guidance of his longtime coach, Bob Bowman, Phelps's

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<v Speaker 1>talent blossomed rapidly. By the age of ten, he was

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<v Speaker 1>already breaking national age group records, and at fifteen, he

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<v Speaker 1>became the youngest male in sixty eight years to make

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<v Speaker 1>the US Olympic swim team. This marked the beginning of

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<v Speaker 1>an unprecedented Olympic career that would span five games and

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<v Speaker 1>rewrite the record books. Phelps' first Olympic appearance came at

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<v Speaker 1>the two thousand Sydney Games, where he finished fifth in

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<v Speaker 1>the two hundred meters butterfly. While he didn't medal, this

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<v Speaker 1>experience fueled his determination to dominate the sport. Four years later,

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<v Speaker 1>at the two thousand and four Athens Olympics, Phelps emerged

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<v Speaker 1>as a swimming sensation, winning six gold medals and two

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<v Speaker 1>bronze medals. His performance drew comparisons to Mark Spitz's nineteen

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<v Speaker 1>seventy two record of seven gold medals in a single Olympics.

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<v Speaker 1>The two thousand and eight Beijing Olympics would prove to

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<v Speaker 1>be Phelps's crowning achievement in in display of aquatic mastery,

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<v Speaker 1>he won an astounding eight gold medals, breaking Spitz's record

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<v Speaker 1>and cementing his place as the most decorated Olympian in

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<v Speaker 1>a single games. Phelps's achievement was not just about the

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<v Speaker 1>number of medals, but also about the manner in which

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<v Speaker 1>he won them. He set seven world records in one

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<v Speaker 1>Olympic record, showcasing his versatility across multiple swimming disciplines. Despite

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<v Speaker 1>considering retirement after Beijing, Phelps returned for the twenty twelve

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<v Speaker 1>London Olympics, where he added four gold and two silver

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<v Speaker 1>medals to his tally. He announced his retirement following these games,

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<v Speaker 1>but the allure of competition proved too strong. Phelps made

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<v Speaker 1>a comeback for the twenty sixteen Rio Olympics, his fifth

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<v Speaker 1>and final games at the age of thirty one. He

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<v Speaker 1>demonstrated that he was still a force to be reckoned,

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<v Speaker 1>with winning five gold medals and one silver. Throughout his career,

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<v Speaker 1>Phelps amassed in unparalleled twenty eight Olympic medals, including twenty

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<v Speaker 1>three gold medals. His dominance extended beyond the Olympics, with

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<v Speaker 1>twenty six World Championship gold medals and numerous world records

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<v Speaker 1>to his name. Phelps's impact on swimming was transformative, elevating

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<v Speaker 1>the sport's profile and inspiring a new generation of swimmers worldwide.

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<v Speaker 1>Away from the pool, Phelps's life has been marked by

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<v Speaker 1>both triumphs and challenges. He has been open about his

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<v Speaker 1>struggles with depression and alcohol abuse, using his platform to

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<v Speaker 1>advocate for mental health awareness. In twenty sixteen, he married

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<v Speaker 1>Nicole Johnson, with whom he has three sons. Phelps has

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<v Speaker 1>also dedicated himself to philanthropic efforts, establishing the Michael Phelps

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<v Speaker 1>Foundation to promote water safety and encourage youth swimming. Since retiring,

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<v Speaker 1>Phelps has remained involved in swimming as a mentor and advocate.

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<v Speaker 1>He has been vocal about issues such as doping in sports,

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<v Speaker 1>and has work to promote swimming as a life skill.

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<v Speaker 1>His post competitive career has also seen him venture into business,

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<v Speaker 1>with endorsements and partnerships that leverage his status as one

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<v Speaker 1>of the most recognizable athletes in the world. Michael Phelps's

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<v Speaker 1>legacy extends far beyond his metal count. He redefined what

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<v Speaker 1>was possible in competitive swimming, pushing the boundaries of human

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<v Speaker 1>performance and inspiring millions around the globe. His journey from

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<v Speaker 1>a hyperactive child to the most decorated Olympian in history

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<v Speaker 1>is a testament to the power or of dedication, talent,

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<v Speaker 1>and the transformative nature of sport. Phelps's story continues to

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<v Speaker 1>resonate not just as a tale of athletic prowess, but

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<v Speaker 1>as an example of overcoming personal challenges and using one's

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<v Speaker 1>platform for positive change.