Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps, born June 30, 1985, in Baltimore, Maryland, is the most decorated Olympian of all time. He earned 23 gold medals over five Olympic Games from 2000 to 2016. Phelps's remarkable achievements include winning eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, surpassing Mark Spitz's 1972 record for the most first-place finishes at any single Olympic Games. At the 2004 Athens Olympics, he secured six gold and two bronze medals. His world records in the 100-meter butterfly, 200-meter butterfly, and 400-meter individual medley stood for years, underscoring his dominance in swimming. Phelps retired after the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he added five golds and one silver to his medal tally.