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Michael Phelps Facts & Worksheets

Michael Phelps is considered to be the most decorated Olympian of all time. By the time he retired at the 2016 Rio Olympics at the age of 31, he had collected a total of 23 golds, 3 silvers, and 2 bronzes at the Olympics.

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Michael Phelps is considered to be the most decorated Olympian of all time. By the time he retired at the 2016 Rio Olympics at the age of 31, he had collected a total of 23 golds, 3 silvers, and 2 bronzes at the Olympics, a record-breaking haul that looks unlikely to be bettered for many years to come.

See the fact file below for more information on the Michael Phelps or alternatively, you can download our 25-page Michael Phelps worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

Early Life

  • Michael Phelps was born on June 30, 1985, in Baltimore, Maryland.
  • The youngest of three children, Michael grew up in the Rodgers Forge neighborhood with his parents, Fred, a state trooper and athlete, and Debbie, a middle-school principal.
  • When his parents divorced in 1994, Michael and his sisters lived with their mother, with whom Michael was very close.
  • Young Phelps learned how to swim at age 7, when his sisters, Whitney and Hilary, joined a local swim team. He was still “a little scared” to put his head under water so his instructors allowed him to float around on his back.
  • After watching U.S. swimmers Tom Malchow and Tom Dolan compete at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Michael began to dream of becoming a swimming champion.
  • He started training at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club where he met Coach Bob Bowman, who immediately recognized Phelps’ skills and strong sense of competition. He then took Phelps under his guidance and they began an intense training routine together. By 1999, Michael had made the U.S. National Team B.

2000 Olympic Games in Sydney

  • Although Phelps was diagnosed with ADHD and struggled in academics, he focused well when it came to swimming. In 2000, Phelps became the youngest U.S. male Olympian at age 15 as he qualified for the 200-meter butterfly event.
  • While he did not win a medal, he competed in the finals against veteran Tom Malchow, placing fifth. Phelps found inspiration from watching the races of fellow swimmers, most especially world freestyle legend Ian Thorpe.

First World Records

  • The next year, Phelps broke his first world record during the World Championship Trials at the Phillips 66 Nationals, in the same event in which he had competed at the Sydney Games: 200-meter butterfly.
  • Still 15, he also became the youngest male swimmer to break a world record, a title previously held by Ian Thorpe, who had broken the 400-meter freestyle world record at 16 years and 10 months of age.
  • Phelps then broke his own record at the 2001 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, earning his first international medal, and solidified his prowess on the 200-meter butterfly that would not be fully relinquished until his retirement.
  • Phelps continued to set new records at the 2002 U.S. Summer Nationals in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, placing a new world record for the 400-meter individual medley, and national records in the 100-meter butterfly and the 200-meter individual medley.
  • Shortly after graduating from Towson in 2003, 17 year old Michael Phelps established five world records, including the 200-meter individual medley at the FINA World Swimming Championships in Barcelona, Spain.
  • A year later, he broke his own world record, again, in the 400-meter individual medley during the 2004 Summer Olympics US tryouts.

2004 Olympic Games in Athens

  • In the following years, Phelps developed his repertoire, proving himself on multiple events. At 19 years old, he became a superstar at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, where he earned 8 medals, tying with Soviet gymnast Dityatin for the most medals in a single Olympic Games.
  • On the first day of the Games, Phelps won one of the most demanding events, the 400-meter individual medley, in record time. During the highly anticipated 200-meter freestyle race, Phelps swam against his hero, Ian Thorpe, and placed third, behind Thorpe and Pieter van den Hoogenband.
  • Michael then followed Coach Bowman to the University of Michigan to study sports marketing and management. As he pursued his studies, Phelps also continued to establish world records at the 2006 Pan Pacific Championships in Victoria, British Columbia, and the 2007 World Championships in Melbourne, Australia.

2008 Beijing Olympics

  • At the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Phelps earned his 14th career gold medal, the most gold medals won by any Olympian, surpassing swimmer Mark Spitz’s 1972 record of seven golds.
    Phelps also established the record for the most gold medals won in a single Olympic Games by winning 8 gold medals.
  • While the fame lasted a while, it also called attention to Phelps’ recreational drug use, which was addressed publicly when a photo of him using a bong surfaced on the Internet in February 2009. He apologized and served his 3-month suspension from the US National Swim Team.

2012 London Summer Olympics

  • Phelps’ Olympic medal count went up to 22 during the 2012 Olympic Games in London, setting a new record for most Olympic medals, beating gymnast Larisa Latynina’s 18.
  • Phelps then announced his retirement from swimming, having collected a total of 71 medals in major competitions. At the time, he held 6 long-course world records, including that of his signature event, the 200-meter butterfly.

Retirement

  • During his quasi-retirement, Phelps focused on the Michael Phelps Foundation, which he founded with Coach Bob Bowman after his successful stint in Beijing, supporting the youth’s interest in swimming and promoting the importance of having a healthy lifestyle.
  • He also traveled across the globe, attending golf tournaments and was even featured on a golfing television show.
  • Phelps never strayed too far from swimming – making an appearance in the stands at the 2013 World Championships in Barcelona, and joining his old training crew at the NBAC to stay in shape, stirring fans into a frenzy at the possibility of a return to competition. Even rival Ryan Lochte stated in multiple interviews that he knew Phelps would be back.

The Return in Rio

  • On June 2016, Phelps made a huge comeback when he became the first American male swimmer to qualify on five Olympic teams. His partner, Nicole, their baby, Boomer, and his mother witnessed as the Olympic legend made history from the stands in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
  • He got his 19th Olympic gold in Rio, winning the second leg of the 400-meter freestyle relay. Phelps went on to win gold in both the 200-meter butterfly and in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay together with Conor Dwyer, Townley Haas, and Ryan Lochte.
  • Phelps’ goal to become the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time was not meant for him: 21-year old Singaporean Joseph Schooling denied him of his 23rd Olympic gold in the 100-meter butterfly, breaking Phelps’ Olympic record in the process.
  • A couple of days after wrapping up his fifth Olympic Games appearance, Phelps announced that he was retiring for good, saying “this time I mean it”, referring to his last retirement after London 2012, which did not last.

Other Recognition

  • Over the years, Michael Phelps has earned various awards recognizing his hard work and passion for the sport, including several Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly (ESPY) awards and Sportsman of the Year in Sports Illustrated.
  • Phelps also guest-starred as himself in an episode of Suits, of which he and Conor Dwyer are avid fans.
  • In addition to his successful athletic career, Phelps has written several books, Beneath the Surface: My Story in 2008, and the prominent No Limits: The Will to Succeed in 2009.

Michael Phelps Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Michael Phelps across 25 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Michael Phelps worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Michael Phelps who is considered to be the most decorated Olympian of all time. By the time he retired at the 2016 Rio Olympics at the age of 31, he had collected a total of 23 golds, 3 silvers, and 2 bronzes at the Olympics, a record-breaking haul that looks unlikely to be bettered for many years to come.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Mike’s Menu
  • Super Phelps
  • FINA Swimmers of the Year
  • Color Run
  • PHELPS FTW!
  • Rio 2016 Rivals
  • Interview with the Greatest
  • 5 Habits
  • Wet! Wet! Wet!
  • G.O.A.T.’s Quotes

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Link will appear as Michael Phelps Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, October 30, 2018

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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