What has he done?. Phelps won 22 Olympic Medals, 18 of those Gold, he won 33 World Championship Medals, 26 of those Gold, and over his swimming career, he set 39 world records. Has anyone else in the swimming pool at the world level done this? Nope!
In the lead-up to the 2012 Olympics, facing the subtle challenge of Ryan Lochte trying to "usurp the king" by going for a slew of Olympic Gold medals, Phelps appeared to be drawn back into the competitive arena of the swimming pool, refocusing on what he is best at, swimming. He got back to work in the pool, training and training, and training. Ryan Lochte is no slouch swimmer, he is certainly among the very, very best in the world, and earned 5 Olympic medals in London - 2 Gold, 2 Silver, and 1 Bronze - and has the world record in the 200 IM and was part of the world record 4 x 200 Free Relay at the 2009 World Championships.
Would Michaels return to more dedicated training happen soon enough, and would it be enough, to get back to the top of the heap form he had at the Beijing Olympics in 2008? Nope! He probably started back on the hard training trail a little too late to get back in the same form as he had at the 2008 Olympics (8 Gold medals in one Olympic Games), he still had a decent 2012 Olympics (that is an understatement... 6 medals - 4 Gold, 2 Silver).
What did happen for Michael Phelps at the 2012 London Olympics? By winning the 200 IM and 100 fly, he became the first swimmer to win the same events at three consecutive Olympics. By winning 6 medals, he became well and away the most decorated Olympian ever (Larisa Latynina, a Russian Gymnast from the 50s and 60s, won 18 Olympic medals). By winning 4 Golds, he brought his total of Gold medal count to 18, double the next athlete on the list, Larisa.
Over his swimming career, how good was Michael Phelps? Other swimmers will go faster than he went, but will anyone ever be able to beat his total medal haul? Let's take a look at some of the Michael Phelps is the Best Swimmer Ever facts.
MICHAEL PHELPS AT THE OLYMPICS
- 2012 London Games (6 medals)
GOLD 100m Butterfly 51.21
SILVER 200m Butterfly 1:53.01
GOLD 200m Individual Medley 1:54.27
4th 400m Individual Medley 4:09.28
SILVER 4x100m Freestyle Relay
GOLD 4x200m Freestyle Relay
GOLD 4x100m Medley Relay
- 2008 Beijing Games (8 medals)
GOLD 200m Freestyle 1:42.96
GOLD 100m Butterfly 50.58
GOLD 200m Butterfly 1:52.03
GOLD 200m Individual Medley 1:54.23
GOLD 400m Individual Medley 4:03.84
GOLD 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay
GOLD 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay
GOLD 4 x 100m Medley Relay
- 2004 Athens (8 medals)
BRONZE 200m Freestyle 1:45.32
GOLD 100m Butterfly 51.25
GOLD 200m Butterfly 1:54.04
GOLD 200m Individual Medley 1:57.14
GOLD 400m Individual Medley 4:08.26
BRONZE 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay
GOLD 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay
GOLD 4 x 100m Medley Relay
- 2000 Sydney (no medals)
5th 200m Butterfly 1:56.50