Michael Phelps’ Quest for Gold

Posted by Yuka as Famous

Golden Boy
Michael Phelps has the opportunity to surpass Mark Spitz’s record of seven gold medals at
one Olympics. In the above photo, he poses with the first from these 2008 games, for his win
in the 400m Individual Medley.

The Baltimore Bullet
At the 2000 Sydney games, Phelps became the youngest American male swimmer to compete at the Olympics in 68 years. He was 15 years old. He failed to medal, finishing fifth in the 200m
Butterfly.

A Light in the Attica
By 2004, Phelps’ star was on the rise. At the Athens Games, he claimed eight medals total,
six gold and two bronze.

Fastest
In the men’s 400-meter Individual Medley in Athens, Phelps won the event, and set a new
world record.

Not Resting on his Laurels
Phelps grins after winning the medal for the IM, the first of many.

So Close
In the 4 x 100 Freestyle Relay, Phelps and the Americans came in third to the South
Africans, who celebrate their win in the photo above. Had he won seven golds in Athens,
Phelps would have been eligible for a $1 million bonus from his sponsor Speedo, an offer
that now extends to the Beijing Games.

Tune Up
Phelps wins the 400m Individual Medley at the 2007 World Swimming Championships in
Melbourne.

Making a Splash
In Beijing, Phelps has the chance to win eight gold medals and set eight world records,
eclipsing the record of seven set at the 1972 Games in Munich.

Two Down, Six to Go
Garrett Weber-Gale and Phelps cheer their victory and world record time in the 4 x 100m
Freestyle Relay in Beijing.

Another Day at the Office
In winning the 200m Individual Medley, his sixth gold of the Beijing Games, Phelps set
another world record.

Citius Altius Fortius
So far, China has been good for Phelps. He has won six gold medals and set six world
records, giving him the most gold medals of any modern Olympic athlete, with 12.