Family Parents
Fred Phelps-father, Debbie Phelps-mother Siblings
Whitney Phelps-sister, and Hilary Phelps-sister
Background Information
Phelps's motivation to become a swimmer started off early, his two older sisters were very big into swimming. He was motivated by his sister, Whitney when at the young age of 15 she made the 1996 Olympic swim team but injures stopped her from being able to swim. At age seven Phelps began to swim with an instructor, afraid to put his head below the surface he quickly and effectively mastered the backstroke. After watching the 1996 Olympics and seeing swimmers like Tom Malchow and Tom Dolan, Michael wanted to become champion too. He started to swim at Loyla high school were he met his coach Bob Bowman. In 1999 swimming under Coach Bowman, Phelps made the U.S. National B team. The next year he swam at the Olympics in Sydney and became the youngest American male swimmer to compete at an Olympic games at the age of 15. After competing in the Olympics Phelps set the world record for the 200 meter butterfly, he was the youngest male swimmer in history to ever set a world record at the age of 15 years and 9 months. Soon after this achievement Phelps rebroke the record in japan with a winning time of 1:54:58, getting his first international medal. After setting numerous records and winning plenty of gold medals at large swimming events Phelps became the god of the swimming world at the 2004 Olympics. He won 8 medals and took down his previous 400 individual medaly record. At the 2008 Olympics Phelps won seven gold medals and set world records in very event except the 100 butterfly which set a olympic record. He surpassed Mark Spitz's' record of seven gold medals in the 1992 Olympics.(N.A. 2009)
Bad Decisions In Michaels Life.
All great athletes are not perfect, for instance most baseball players that use steroids will not openly admit it. But mikes story is not as career endangering as those baseball players stories were. Phelps is like all kids who went through highschool and then into there college years so when he was caught for drunk driving i was not surprised. He was caught when he ran a stop sign and he was arrested. Phelps was sentenced to 18 months probation and he was fined two hundred and fifty dollars along with speaking against drinking and driving to highschoolers. He also had to attend several Mothers against drunk driving meetings. After he had been caught with driving under the influence he was back on the news but not for swimming, a picture was leaked out of phelps smoking a bong. After Phelps quickly apolagized For his behaivor the country still was not satisfied by what they heard and they thought that he should still be penalized for his actions. Although no charges were given to Phelps the public still has a different feeling for Phelps other then him being an olympic swimmer.
Influences On Michaels Life
The two biggest influences on michael had to have been his sister Whitney and Mark Spitz a former gold medal winning olympian. Whitney had a direct influence on mike when he was just a young child. After seeing his sister qualify fot the olympics at the age of 15 mike knew that he wanted to be a swimmer just like her. When he started swimming and paying attention to the swim world he saw Mark spitz win a record 7 gold medals at the 1996 summer olympics, he set his goal to beat mark by winning 8 gold medals which he later did.
Why did I choose Michael Phelps?
I chose Michael Phelps becasue I look up to him as a swimmer who has changed the sport. He has taken swimming to another level by completely dominating the sport for the past few years. He has won numerous international events and is still one of the most feared swimmers to get in the pool.
His Influence On The World.
Phelps has had a big influence on the world, winning 14 gold medals was one of his largest achievements that was recognized by everyone. Phelps's biggest shock to the world was when he made the olympic team when he was just 15, although he didnt win any medals, people across the world knew that he would become one of the greatest swimmers ever.
Awards
Athletic Union, Sullivan Award for best amateur athlete in United States, 2003; International Amateur Athletic Association, American-International Athlete Trophy, 2003; Olympics, Athens, Greece, six gold medals, two bronze medals, 2004. (Biography Resource Center, 08/26/2009)
Quotes
- "I wont predict anything historic but nothing is impossible"
- "You cant put a limit on anything. The more you dream, The farther you get."
Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps | | flat | Demographics | Background Information | Bad Decisions In Michaels Life. | Influences On Michaels Life | Why did I choose Michael Phelps? | His Influence On The World. | | Awards | Quotes | Citations
Demographics
Birth Name
Michael Fred PhelpsHometown
Baltimore, Maryland
Birth date
June 30, 1985
Family
Parents
Fred Phelps-father, Debbie Phelps-mother
Siblings
Whitney Phelps-sister, and Hilary Phelps-sister
Background Information
Phelps's motivation to become a swimmer started off early, his two older sisters were very big into swimming. He was motivated by his sister, Whitney when at the young age of 15 she made the 1996 Olympic swim team but injures stopped her from being able to swim. At age seven Phelps began to swim with an instructor, afraid to put his head below the surface he quickly and effectively mastered the backstroke. After watching the 1996 Olympics and seeing swimmers like Tom Malchow and Tom Dolan, Michael wanted to become champion too. He started to swim at Loyla high school were he met his coach Bob Bowman. In 1999 swimming under Coach Bowman, Phelps made the U.S. National B team. The next year he swam at the Olympics in Sydney and became the youngest American male swimmer to compete at an Olympic games at the age of 15. After competing in the Olympics Phelps set the world record for the 200 meter butterfly, he was the youngest male swimmer in history to ever set a world record at the age of 15 years and 9 months. Soon after this achievement Phelps rebroke the record in japan with a winning time of 1:54:58, getting his first international medal. After setting numerous records and winning plenty of gold medals at large swimming events Phelps became the god of the swimming world at the 2004 Olympics. He won 8 medals and took down his previous 400 individual medaly record. At the 2008 Olympics Phelps won seven gold medals and set world records in very event except the 100 butterfly which set a olympic record. He surpassed Mark Spitz's' record of seven gold medals in the 1992 Olympics.(N.A. 2009)
Bad Decisions In Michaels Life.
All great athletes are not perfect, for instance most baseball players that use steroids will not openly admit it. But mikes story is not as career endangering as those baseball players stories were. Phelps is like all kids who went through highschool and then into there college years so when he was caught for drunk driving i was not surprised. He was caught when he ran a stop sign and he was arrested. Phelps was sentenced to 18 months probation and he was fined two hundred and fifty dollars along with speaking against drinking and driving to highschoolers. He also had to attend several Mothers against drunk driving meetings. After he had been caught with driving under the influence he was back on the news but not for swimming, a picture was leaked out of phelps smoking a bong. After Phelps quickly apolagized For his behaivor the country still was not satisfied by what they heard and they thought that he should still be penalized for his actions. Although no charges were given to Phelps the public still has a different feeling for Phelps other then him being an olympic swimmer.
Influences On Michaels Life
The two biggest influences on michael had to have been his sister Whitney and Mark Spitz a former gold medal winning olympian. Whitney had a direct influence on mike when he was just a young child. After seeing his sister qualify fot the olympics at the age of 15 mike knew that he wanted to be a swimmer just like her. When he started swimming and paying attention to the swim world he saw Mark spitz win a record 7 gold medals at the 1996 summer olympics, he set his goal to beat mark by winning 8 gold medals which he later did.Why did I choose Michael Phelps?
I chose Michael Phelps becasue I look up to him as a swimmer who has changed the sport. He has taken swimming to another level by completely dominating the sport for the past few years. He has won numerous international events and is still one of the most feared swimmers to get in the pool.His Influence On The World.
Phelps has had a big influence on the world, winning 14 gold medals was one of his largest achievements that was recognized by everyone. Phelps's biggest shock to the world was when he made the olympic team when he was just 15, although he didnt win any medals, people across the world knew that he would become one of the greatest swimmers ever.Awards
Athletic Union, Sullivan Award for best amateur athlete in United States, 2003; International Amateur Athletic Association, American-International Athlete Trophy, 2003; Olympics, Athens, Greece, six gold medals, two bronze medals, 2004. (Biography Resource Center, 08/26/2009)Quotes
- "I wont predict anything historic but nothing is impossible"- "You cant put a limit on anything. The more you dream, The farther you get."
- "I guess I might be the best athlete ever."
Citations
-Michael Phelps. (2009). Biography.com. Retrieved 02:42, Nov 13 2009 from http://www.biography.com/articles/Michael-Phelps-345192
-Michael Phelps. (2004). Biography.com. Retrieved 12:16, Nov 14 2009 from
-Michael Phelps. (2009). Galenet.com. Retrieved 12:26, Nov 14 2009 from http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC?
-Phelps Falters At A Meet In Stockholm. (2009) nytimes.com. Retrieved 12:21, Nov 14 2009 from http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/11/sports/othersports/11phelps.html
-Michael Phelps. (2009). Answers.com. Retrieved 02:54, Nov 13 2009 from http://www.answers.com/topic/michael-phelps
-Phelps.M. (2007) saidwhat.com from http://www.saidwhat.co.uk/quotes/sport/michael_phelps