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Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps is an American former competitive swimmer and the most decorated Olympian in history.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Michael Phelps is an American former competitive swimmer and the most decorated Olympian in history. He won 28 Olympic medals, including 23 gold medals, across five Olympic Games. He retired from competitive swimming after the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Early life

Michael Phelps was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on June 30, 1985. He became serious about swimming at a young age and rose through club and national competition before joining the U.S. Olympic team.

Olympic career

Phelps became the most decorated athlete in Olympic history through five appearances at the Games. His career highlights include eight gold medals in Beijing in 2008 and 28 total Olympic medals overall. He holds the record for the most Olympic medals (28) and the most gold medals (23) by any athlete.

Retirement

Phelps retired from competitive swimming after the Rio 2016 Olympics. He had previously stepped away from the sport before returning for the Rio Games.

Personal life and public work

Outside competition, Phelps has been involved in health and mental-health advocacy. He founded the Michael Phelps Foundation in 2008.

Key facts

  • Phelps holds the record for the most Olympic medals won by any athlete, with 28 total.
  • He holds the record for the most Olympic gold medals, with 23.
  • He competed in five Olympic Games, from Sydney 2000 to Rio 2016.
  • He won eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, a single-Games record.
  • He is a former swimmer from Baltimore, Maryland.
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Canadian context

Phelps is a major figure in Olympic history and a frequent reference point for Canadian coverage of swimming, Olympic medal records, and comparisons with Canadian athletes at the Games.

Frequently asked questions

How many Olympic medals does Michael Phelps have?
Michael Phelps has 28 Olympic medals in total: 23 gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze.
How old is Michael Phelps?
Michael Phelps was born on June 30, 1985, so he is 41 years old as of 2026.
How tall is Michael Phelps?
Michael Phelps is listed at 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) tall.
What is Michael Phelps' net worth?
Reliable sources in the provided results do not give a verified net worth figure, so this cannot be stated confidently here.
What is Michael Phelps' diet?
The provided sources do not include a verified current diet description. In media coverage, Phelps has often been associated with a very high-calorie training diet, but no exact figure is confirmed in the supplied sources.
When did Michael Phelps retire?
He retired from competitive swimming after the 2016 Rio Olympics.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Phelps
    Supports: Birth date, nationality, Olympic medal totals, and retirement after Rio 2016.
  2. Olympics.com — https://www.olympics.com/en/athletes/michael-phelps-ii
    Supports: Birth date, Olympic medal totals, and biography details.
  3. Team USA — https://www.teamusa.com/profiles/michael-phelps
    Supports: Olympic appearances, medal totals, and Rio 2016 results.
  4. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michael-Phelps
    Supports: Biographical overview, Olympic record, and retirement/return context.
  5. World Aquatics — https://www.worldaquatics.com/athletes/1001621/michael-phelps/medals
    Supports: Olympic medal breakdown of 23 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze.