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Whereas you judge Michael Phelps, the words “excellence” and “success” would possibly perchance perchance even option to mind. But how exactly did the swimmer become the most decorated Olympian of all time? And most considerably, what has he been as a lot as since retiring in 2016? We’re having a explore support at the athlete’s account-breaking career.
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2000: Phelps’ World Debut
Born in 1985 in Baltimore, Maryland, Michael Phelps began swimming competitively at felony seven years aged. After years of dominating in the pool, Phelps certified for his first Olympics in 2000.
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2000: Breaking a World Checklist
Old to even entering into the pool at the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics, Phelps broke a world account. When he certified for the Olympics at the age of 15, he turned the youngest American male to get the swimming team in 68 years.
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2002: The Relay Crew
Whereas Phelps did no longer medal at his first Olympics in Sydney, the promising younger swimmer helped the USA relay team bring house a gold medal and residing a brand unusual world account at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Japan. The relay event would breeze on to become one of Phelps’ simplest events at the Olympics.
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2003: Coaching Never Stops
Even at some stage in off-Olympic years, Phelps used to be repeatedly coaching and competing. Here, he’s considered practicing in a French coaching facility sooner than representing the USA at the 2003 World Swimming Championships in Barcelona, Spain.
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2003: Ranked Amount One in the World
By 2003, Phelps used to be ranked #1 on this planet. The swimmer proudly confirmed off the six medals he won at the 10th FINA World Championships in 2003.
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2004: Olympic Speedo Contract
Even supposing Phelps first signed his endorsement deal with Speedo in 2001, it wasn’t unless three years later that the US swimmer would portray the logo at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. The athlete stayed with the sportswear firm for 12 years, ending the partnership in 2013.
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2004: A Superstar With Chronicle Proportions
Earlier than the 2004 Olympic Games, Michael Phelps’ shocking wingspan used to be touted in the press. His proportions are three inches longer than his height from fingertip to fingertip, earning him the nickname “Flying Fish.”
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2004: Making the Olympic Crew (Again)
Since his Olympic debut four years earlier, Phelps persisted to get a name for himself. In 2004, he certified yet every other time for the U.S. males’s Olympic team, punching his ticket to Athens, Greece.
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2004: Embracing Hollywood
Whereas promoting the 2004 Summer Olympics, Phelps cultivated his private assign. The swimmer began performing on focus on shows and quick turned a pop tradition sensation.
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2004: The Athens Summer Olympics
Michael Phelps entered the Athens 2004 Summer Games certain to beat Tag Spitz’s account of winning seven gold medals at a single Olympics. He competed in seven events, including the 4x200m freestyle relay final.
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2004: Going Home with the Gold
Phelps used to be a standout superstar for the USA at the 2004 Summer Olympics. The swimmer took house eight Olympic medals total — six gold and two bronze. The athlete tied Soviet gymnast, Aleksandr Dityatin, for the most medals ever won by a competitor at a single Olympic Games.
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2004: Changing into a Family Name
Michael Phelps’ superstar put of residing jumped up a notch after he cinched Olympic glory in Athens. The swimmer seemed on MTV’s TRL with Vanessa Milano in 2004.
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2005: Repeatedly Competing
Lawful one 12 months after his Olympic victory, Phelps used to be support and readier than ever to compete again. The swimmer earned a total of six medals, 5 golds and one silver, at the World Aquatics Championships.
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2006: Representing the U.S.
Two years sooner than the Beijing Summer Olympics, Phelps represented the USA on a Goodwill time out to the Chinese capital.
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2008: Swimming for Michigan
Old to the Beijing Olympics, Phelps adopted his longtime coach, Bob Bowman, to the College of Michigan. The swimmer competed for Membership Wolverine and took classes at the mighty university sooner than heading to his third Summer Games.
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2008: Setting Up a Foundation
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2008: An Award Demonstrate Routine
By 2008, Michael Phelps used to be firmly cemented as a pop tradition icon, and on a unparalleled basis hit the purple carpet at award shows — relish the MTV Video Tune Awards.
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2008: The Beijing Olympics
After falling rapid of beating Tag Spitz’s account in 2004, Phelps used to be extra certain than ever to get so at the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics. Speedo even equipped the swimmer a $1 million prize if he would possibly perchance perchance even tie or beat the 1972 account.
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2008: The Checklist-Breaking Gold Medal
In Beijing, Phelps did exactly what he residing out to get. With eight gold medal victories, he broke the previous account of seven gold medals won by any Olympian.
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2008: Many Broad Wins
After his decorated get at the Beijing Olympics, Michael Phelps turned an undisputed American icon. The athlete residing a unusual world account with each and every gold medal he won, aside from for the 100m butterfly event.
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2008: Olympic Heartthrob
Or no longer it’s safe to dispute that each and every teenage lady used to be chasing after Phelps following his 2008 Olympic efficiency. In a single day, the Olympian reworked from athlete to rockstar-level heartthrob.
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2008: Phelps’ Tv Debut
In 2008, the swimmer stumbled on himself out of the pool and in front of the camera. The Olympian hosted NBC’s Saturday Night Are living, performing in front of hundreds of hundreds of viewers.
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2008: A Printed Book
Phelps set pen to paper following the 2008 Summer Olympics and launched his first autobiography, No Limits: The Will to Prevail. It wasn’t unless eight years later that the Olympian would launch a 2d guide, including his recollections from the 2016 Summer Olympics.
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2009: A Immense Scandal
The Olympic superstar faced his first public scandal when a photograph of him smoking a bong used to be launched in February 2009. He launched a assertion addressing the misstep, and obtained a three month suspension from USA Swimming.
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2009: Coaching With His Longtime Coach
Phelps has had coach Bob Bowman by his side since he used to be seven years aged. Over time, the pair knowledgeable collectively for the Olympics, and are pictured here chatting on Day 2 of the Canada Cup — an event Phelps went on to steal yet one other gold medal at.
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2012: London Calling
After qualifying for the Olympic team in 2012, the athlete promoted the Summer Games in London, England. The event used to be Phelps’ fourth Olympic competition.
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2012: A Pre-Bustle Routine
Phelps did no longer become the most successful Olympian of all time with out some rituals. The Olympic swimmer used to be known for eating the same urge-day breakfast – eggs, oatmeal and four energy shakes – stretching his muscle groups to limber up, warming up in the water, and then drowning out the crowds with a pre-residing playlist.
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2012: A hit in London
Michael Phelps’ Olympic efficiency at the 2012 Summer Games brought his medal count to a total of 22 – winning four gold medals and two silver.
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2012: Announcing His Closing Olympics
Despite enormous success at the 2012 Olympic Games, Michael Phelps announced he used to be retiring from the sport.
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2015: Engaged and Looking ahead to
In 2015, Phelps announced he had popped the query to his longtime female friend, old skool Miss California Nicole Johnson. 9 months later, the couple also announced they had been waiting for their first youngster.
