Speaker 1: Michael Fred Phelps the Second was born on June thirtieth,
Speaker 1: nineteen eighty five, in Baltimore, Maryland. The youngest of three children,
Speaker 1: Phelps grew up in a household where swimming was a
Speaker 1: way of life. His mother, Debbie, was a middle school principal,
Speaker 1: while his father, Fred was a state trooper. From an
Speaker 1: early age, it was clear that Phelps possessed an extraordinary
Speaker 1: talent for swimming, coupled with boundless energy that his parents
Speaker 1: sought to channel productively. At the tender age of seven,
Speaker 1: Phelps began his swimming journey, partly inspired by his older sisters,
Speaker 1: who were already involved in the sport. However, it was
Speaker 1: more than just following in his siblings footsteps. Phelps found
Speaker 1: solace in the water. Diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Speaker 1: ADHD as a child, he discovered that swimming provided a
Speaker 1: unique outlet for his excess energy and helped him focus.
Speaker 1: Under the guidance of his longtime coach, Bob Bowman, Phelps's
Speaker 1: talent blossomed rapidly. By the age of ten, he was
Speaker 1: already breaking national age group records, and at fifteen, he
Speaker 1: became the youngest male in sixty eight years to make
Speaker 1: the US Olympic swim team. This marked the beginning of
Speaker 1: an unprecedented Olympic career that would span five games and
Speaker 1: rewrite the record books. Phelps' first Olympic appearance came at
Speaker 1: the two thousand Sydney Games, where he finished fifth in
Speaker 1: the two hundred meters butterfly. While he didn't medal, this
Speaker 1: experience fueled his determination to dominate the sport. Four years later,
Speaker 1: at the two thousand and four Athens Olympics, Phelps emerged
Speaker 1: as a swimming sensation, winning six gold medals and two
Speaker 1: bronze medals. His performance drew comparisons to Mark Spitz's nineteen
Speaker 1: seventy two record of seven gold medals in a single Olympics.
Speaker 1: The two thousand and eight Beijing Olympics would prove to
Speaker 1: be Phelps's crowning achievement in in display of aquatic mastery,
Speaker 1: he won an astounding eight gold medals, breaking Spitz's record
Speaker 1: and cementing his place as the most decorated Olympian in
Speaker 1: a single games. Phelps's achievement was not just about the
Speaker 1: number of medals, but also about the manner in which
Speaker 1: he won them. He set seven world records in one
Speaker 1: Olympic record, showcasing his versatility across multiple swimming disciplines. Despite
Speaker 1: considering retirement after Beijing, Phelps returned for the twenty twelve
Speaker 1: London Olympics, where he added four gold and two silver
Speaker 1: medals to his tally. He announced his retirement following these games,
Speaker 1: but the allure of competition proved too strong. Phelps made
Speaker 1: a comeback for the twenty sixteen Rio Olympics, his fifth
Speaker 1: and final games at the age of thirty one. He
Speaker 1: demonstrated that he was still a force to be reckoned,
Speaker 1: with winning five gold medals and one silver. Throughout his career,
Speaker 1: Phelps amassed in unparalleled twenty eight Olympic medals, including twenty
Speaker 1: three gold medals. His dominance extended beyond the Olympics, with
Speaker 1: twenty six World Championship gold medals and numerous world records
Speaker 1: to his name. Phelps's impact on swimming was transformative, elevating
Speaker 1: the sport's profile and inspiring a new generation of swimmers worldwide.
Speaker 1: Away from the pool, Phelps's life has been marked by
Speaker 1: both triumphs and challenges. He has been open about his
Speaker 1: struggles with depression and alcohol abuse, using his platform to
Speaker 1: advocate for mental health awareness. In twenty sixteen, he married
Speaker 1: Nicole Johnson, with whom he has three sons. Phelps has
Speaker 1: also dedicated himself to philanthropic efforts, establishing the Michael Phelps
Speaker 1: Foundation to promote water safety and encourage youth swimming. Since retiring,
Speaker 1: Phelps has remained involved in swimming as a mentor and advocate.
Speaker 1: He has been vocal about issues such as doping in sports,
Speaker 1: and has work to promote swimming as a life skill.
Speaker 1: His post competitive career has also seen him venture into business,
Speaker 1: with endorsements and partnerships that leverage his status as one
Speaker 1: of the most recognizable athletes in the world. Michael Phelps's
Speaker 1: legacy extends far beyond his metal count. He redefined what
Speaker 1: was possible in competitive swimming, pushing the boundaries of human
Speaker 1: performance and inspiring millions around the globe. His journey from
Speaker 1: a hyperactive child to the most decorated Olympian in history
Speaker 1: is a testament to the power or of dedication, talent,
Speaker 1: and the transformative nature of sport. Phelps's story continues to
Speaker 1: resonate not just as a tale of athletic prowess, but
Speaker 1: as an example of overcoming personal challenges and using one's
Speaker 1: platform for positive change.