Michael Phelps first competed for Team USA in the 2000 Sydney Olympics in only one race, a fifth place finish in 200m Butterfly. But then in Athens 2004, Phelps burst onto the scene with a near perfect race card, winning six gold medals and two bronze. He also broke a world record in his first race, the 400m individual medley and went on to break two Olympic records in the 200m Butterfly and 200m individual medley. At this point in his career, Phelps was still only 19, but he was already beginning to show that he was going to be a star.
The peak of Phelps' stardom came in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, where he did what no one thought was possible, win eight gold medals in one Olympic tournament. Mark Spitz, also from the United States, had won seven in 1972, but that record was thought to be immortal before Phelps came along. Along the way to his eight gold medals, Phelps also set seven world records, including beating the three he had set in Athens. The 100m Butterfly was the only race he didn't set a world record in, but he still set an Olympic record in it. If they didn't know his name after Athens, Olympic fans around the world all knew who Michael Phelps was by the end of Beijing's games.
Already with 16 medals to his name, critics were wondering if Phelps still had what it takes to be successful in the days leading up to the London games. It was well publicized how Phelps enjoyed living the life of a celebrity and did not train as much as he should have in the four years between Beijing and London. And Ryan Lochte, a man who usually swam in the shadow of the star, was quickly rising up the ranks and challenging Phelps at events he was the world record holder in. But Phelps answered the call and swam in equally amazing fashion in London.
The London games did not start to good for Phelps, as he narrowly qualified for the final in the 400m individual medley and then finishing in fourth overall. This was his first time missing the podium since 2000 in Sydney and with Lochte winning the gold, critics were certain the Phelps era was over. But they were wrong as Phelps would win six medals in London.
Phelps' first medal in London was a silver, the first of his career, in the 4x100m freestyle relay. He also got silver in the 200m Butterfly which tied him with Larisa Latyninan for the most medals ever won by an Olympian at 18. But Phelps was still far from over.
Phelps broke Latyninan's record when his team won gold in the 4x200m free style race. With the record now his with 19 medals, Phelps refused to stop and continued to raise the bar. He won his second gold of the games in the 200m individual medley and his third in his final individual event, the 100m Butterfly. Then to cap off his career, Phelps won his 18th gold medal in the 4x100 meter team medley. With 22 medals around his neck, Phelps announced his retirement from competitive swimming. For his amazing accomplishments, the FINA presented him with a special trophy after his final medal ceremony.
It is very rare for an athlete of Michael Phelps' calibre to change the face of any sport the way he did. His accomplishments rival those of Michael Jordan, Hank Aaron and Wayne Gretzky. But can he be called the greatest Olympian ever? I saw yes. With seven world records in different swimming events, and his total of 22 medals just after turning 27, Phelps has set the bar so high for swimming that it is hard to imagine anyone topping his feats. But I am sure that is what people said about Mark Spitz and Larisa Latyninan when they set their records, and yet here we are today, starstruck by a man who is now the most decorated Olympian of all time.
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