Michael Phelps

Some Lesser Known Facts About Michael Phelps

• Does Michael Phelps smoke?: Not Known

• Does Michael Phelps drink alcohol?: Yes

• His father, Fred, was a state trooper and was also an all-round athlete.

• When Phelps was 9 years old, his parents divorced in 1994.

• His sister was also a swimmer and he was inspired by her to join swimming. He began swimming at the age of 7.

• He was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), when he was in 6th grade.

• At the age of 10, he held the national record in his age group.

• He was the youngest swimmer of USA, when he participated in the 2000 Summer Olympics at the age of 15.

• During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he broke the record of Mark Spitz for winning most number of Gold Medals (7) by an individual after winning 8 gold medals.

• He holds the all-time record for Olympic Gold Medals – 23.

• In the 2012 London Olympics, he won 4 golds and 2 silvers and became the most successful athlete for the 3rd Olympics in a row.

• He won World Swimmer of the Year Award for 7 times and American Swimmer of the Year Award for 9 times.

• He started Michael Phelps Foundation after the 2008 Summer Olympics to promote swimming and healthier lifestyle. 

• After the 2008 Summer Olympics, he became Sports Illustrated magazine’s Sportsman of the Year.

• A Street in his hometown, Baltimore, has been named after Michael Phelps.