Michael Fred Phelps II was born June 30, 1985, in Baltimore, Maryland. Standing 6'4" (1.93m) and competing at 194 lbs (88kg), Phelps was a dominant player in competitive swimming from 2000 to 2016.
He won 28 Olympic medals, including a record 23 golds, across five Games. Phelps set 39 world records (29 individual, 10 relay) throughout his career, with expertise in butterfly, individual medley, and freestyle events.
His eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics remain a single Games record. Beyond the Olympics, Phelps won 33 medals in the World Championships and 21 in the Pan Pacific Championships, totaling 82 medals in major international long-course competitions.
Michael Phelps Olympic Medals Wins
Phelps' 28 medals include 23 gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze. This remarkable achievement spans five Olympic Games:
2000 Sydney: No medals (5th place in 200m butterfly)
2004 Athens: 6 gold, 2 bronze
2008 Beijing: 8 gold
2012 London: 4 gold, 2 silver
2016 Rio: 5 gold, 1 silver
Michael Phelps Medals Breakdown
Here's a detailed breakdown of Phelps' Olympic medals by event:
100m Butterfly: 3 gold (2004, 2008, 2016)
200m Butterfly: 3 gold (2004, 2008, 2016), 1 silver (2012)
200m Freestyle: 1 gold (2008), 1 bronze (2004)
200m Individual Medley: 4 gold (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016)
400m Individual Medley: 2 gold (2004, 2008)
4x100m Freestyle Relay: 2 gold (2008, 2016), 1 bronze (2004)
4x200m Freestyle Relay: 4 gold (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016)
4x100m Medley Relay: 4 gold (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016)
World Championships
| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 2001 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2003 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| 2005 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| 2007 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 2009 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| 2011 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| Total | 26 | 6 | 0 | 32 |
Pan Pacific Championships
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 2002 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| 2006 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| 2010 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2014 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Total | 16 | 4 | 1 | 21 |
Achievements at the Pan Pacific Championships include:
2006: Set world record in 200m butterfly (1:53.80)
2006: Set world record in 200m individual medley (1:55.84)
2006: Part of world record-breaking 4x100m freestyle relay team (3:12.46)
Summer Olympics
- 2000 Sydney Olympics
Youngest male U.S. swimmer in 68 years at age 15
Finished 5th in 200m butterfly
- 2004 Athens Olympics
6 gold, 2 bronze
Gold: 100m butterfly, 200m butterfly, 200m individual medley, 400m individual medley, 4x200m freestyle relay, 4x100m medley relay
Bronze: 200m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle relay
- 2008 Beijing Olympics
8 gold (record for single Games)
Set 7 world records, 1 Olympic record
Gold: 400m individual medley (WR), 4x100m freestyle relay (WR), 200m freestyle (WR), 200m butterfly (WR), 4x200m freestyle relay (WR), 200m individual medley (WR), 100m butterfly (OR), 4x100m medley relay (WR)
- 2012 London Olympics
4 gold, 2 silver
Gold: 100m butterfly, 200m individual medley, 4x200m freestyle relay, 4x100m medley relay
Silver: 200m butterfly, 4x100m freestyle relay
Became all-time record holder for Olympic medals
- 2016 Rio Olympics
5 gold, 1 silver
Gold: 200m butterfly, 200m individual medley, 4x100m freestyle relay, 4x200m freestyle relay, 4x100m medley relay
Silver: 100m butterfly
Oldest individual swimming gold medalist at 31
Michael Phelps's Olympic Appearances
Phelps made his Olympic debut at the 2000 Sydney Games at just 15 years old, becoming the youngest male U.S. swimmer in 68 years. While he didn't win a medal, he finished an impressive 5th in the 200m butterfly final.
His subsequent Olympic appearances were marked by unprecedented success:
2004 Athens: Phelps won 6 gold and 2 bronze medals, announcing his arrival as a swimming superstar.
2008 Beijing: In a historic performance, Phelps won 8 gold medals, breaking Mark Spitz's 1972 record for most golds in a single Games.
2012 London: After briefly considering retirement, Phelps returned to win 4 gold and 2 silver medals.
2016 Rio: In his final Olympics at age 31, Phelps secured 5 gold and 1 silver medal, becoming the oldest individual swimming gold medalist.
Michael Phelps Records & Achievements
Most Olympic medals overall (28)
Most Olympic gold medals (23)
Most Olympic gold medals in individual events (13)
Most Olympic medals in individual events (16)
Most gold medals at a single Olympics (8, Beijing 2008)
Oldest individual Olympic swimming gold medalist (31 years old, Rio 2016)
39 world records set (29 individual, 10 relay)
8-time World Swimmer of the Year (2003-2009, 2012, 2016)
11-time American Swimmer of the Year
Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year (2008)
Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award (2017)
Michael Phelps's Olympic Journey
Phelps' Olympic journey began in 2000 when he qualified for the Sydney Games at just 15 years old. This time, he didn't win a medal.
The 2004 Athens Olympics marked Phelps' breakthrough, where he won 8 medals, including 6 golds. His versatility was on full display as he medaled in freestyle, butterfly, individual medley, and relay events.
The 2008 Beijing Games saw Phelps achieve arguably the greatest Olympic performance of all time. He won gold in all 8 of his events, breaking Mark Spitz's 36-year-old record of 7 golds in a single Games. This included 7 world records and 1 Olympic record.
After considering retirement, Phelps returned for the 2012 London Olympics. He added 6 more medals to his tally, becoming the most decorated Olympian of all time.
Phelps' final Olympic appearance came at the 2016 Rio Games. At 31, he proved he was still at the top of his game, winning 5 golds and 1 silver. His last Olympic race, the 4x100m medley relay, ended with a gold medal and a world record.
How many total medals does Michael Phelps have?
Michael Phelps has a total of 82 medals from major international long-course competitions.
28 Olympic medals (23 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze)
33 World Championship medals (26 gold, 6 silver, 1 bronze)
21 Pan Pacific Championship medals (16 gold, 4 silver, 1 bronze)
Michael Phelps' Gold Medals
| Olympics | Individual Events | Relay Events | Total Gold |
| 2004 Athens | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| 2008 Beijing | 5 | 3 | 8 |
| 2012 London | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 2016 Rio | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Total | 14 | 9 | 23 |
FAQ's On Michael Phelps Medals
A. Phelps won no medals in 2000, 8 in 2004 (6 gold, 2 bronze), 8 gold in 2008, 6 in 2012 (4 gold, 2 silver), and 6 in 2016 (5 gold, 1 silver), totaling 28 Olympic medals across five Games.
A. Phelps set 39 world records throughout his career, with 29 in individual events and 10 in relays. As of 2024, only four of these records remain unbroken.
A. Phelps' success stemmed from his ideal physique for swimming, including a large frame, broad shoulders, and large feet. His versatility across multiple stroke disciplines also contributed to his unprecedented medal haul.
A. Phelps retired due to the physical toll of competitive swimming. After two decades in the sport, he found recovery increasingly challenging as he aged, leading to his decision to step away from competition.
