Geburtsdatum | Sonntag, 30. Juni 1985 |
Geburtsort | Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
Sternzeichen | |
Beschreibung | Michael Fred Phelps II (geboren am 30. Juni 1985) ist ein ehemaliger amerikanischer Leistungsschwimmer. Er ist mit insgesamt 28 Medaillen der erfolgreichste und meistdekorierte Olympionike aller Zeiten. Phelps hält auch die Rekorde für olympische Goldmedaillen (23), olympische Goldmedaillen in Einzelwettbewerben (13) und olympische Medaillen in Einzelwettbewerben (16). Als Phelps bei den Spielen in Peking 2008 acht Goldmedaillen gewann, brach er den Rekord des amerikanischen Schwimmers Mark Spitz aus dem Jahr 1972, der sieben erste Plätze bei einer einzigen Olympiade errungen hatte. Bereits bei den Olympischen Sommerspielen 2004 in Athen hatte Phelps mit sechs Gold- und zwei Bronzemedaillen den Rekord von acht Medaillen einer Farbe bei einer einzigen Olympiade aufgestellt. Bei den Olympischen Sommerspielen 2012 in London gewann Phelps vier Gold- und zwei Silbermedaillen, und bei den Olympischen Sommerspielen 2016 in Ri |
There is a one woman in China that claimed she paid $50 to get my e-mail address. It was pretty shocking. I got one this morning from Scotland. A girl's requesting a signed photo of me.
I want to test my maximum and see how much I can do. And I want to change the world of swimming.
And, you know, being able to wear the stars and stripes, when you step up on one of the blocks or, you know, when you step off of an airplane or when you hear the national anthem play, you know, it's one of the greatest feelings in the world because you know that there are people at home who are supporting you and watching you.
I have reached a place in my life where I need to sit down and say, 'Well, what do I do? What's best for me?' I need to look into options for the future.
I think sometimes I guess you see records, say you want to get there and use that as motivation. In a way, it's kind of cool if there is a possibility to rewrite history and be up there with the greats of Olympic history.
It's cool just because I've had this dream of changing the sport of swimming and it's finally happening.
I want to be able to look back and say, 'I've done everything I can, and I was successful.' I don't want to look back and say I should have done this or that. I'd like to change things for the younger generation of swimmers coming along.
I think to be - for me to be an American is - you know, it's one of the greatest things in the world for - you know, for me just because I've been able to grow up with everything. The freedom. You know, in my eyes this is the greatest country in the world.
I have the opportunity to be part of swimming history. To take the sport to a new level would be an honor for me. There's no better time to try this than now.
If you want to be the best, you have to do things that other people aren't willing to do.
Swimming is normal for me. I'm relaxed. I'm comfortable, and I know my surroundings. It's my home.
This is my 20th year in the sport. I've known swimming and that's it. I don't want to swim past age 30 if I continue after this Olympics, and come back in 2016, I'll be 31. I'm looking forward to being able to see the other side of the fence.
My mom put me and my sisters in the water to feel comfortable, to have water safety.
I feel most at home in the water. I disappear. That's where I belong.
Even in high school, I'd tell my mom I was sick of swimming and wanted to try to play golf. She wasn't too happy. She'd say, 'Think about this.' And I'd always end up getting back in the pool.