Michael Phelps, the "Baltimore Bullet"

At the trials for the 2001 World Aquatic Championships, Phelps broke the record by being the youngest man (15 years and 9 months) to set a swimming world record. In the 2002 Pan Pacific games, Phelps won three gold and two silver medals. In the 2003 World Aquatics Championships, Michael Phelps broke five world records and won four gold and two silver medals. The 2004 Summer Olympics was the first time Phelps took part in the Olympic Games.

This year he made two world records and three Olympic records. At the 2005 World Aquatics Championships Phelps experimented with 100-m freestyle and 400-m freestyle. The 2007 World Championships were a turning point for Phelps. Not only did he win 7 gold medals but he also set 5 world records and one championship record. The 2008 Summer Olympics saw Michael Phelps win 8 gold medals and set 7 world records and one Olympic Records for individual and team swimming competitions.

Phelps began swimming for the North Baltimore Aquatic Club at age 7. While competing at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, Phelps was nicknamed the "Baltimore Bullet".

By age 15, Phelps made the United States team by finishing as runner-up in the 200-meter butterfly for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney (Australia). Five months after his Olympic race in Sydney, Phelps became the sport's youngest male world-record holder by winning the 200-meter butterfly at the 2001 World Championships in Japan. In Athens, Phelps would win 6 gold and 2 bronze medals while setting 1 world record, 3 Olympic records and 2 American records.

In Beijing, Phelps would win another 8 gold medals while setting 7 world records and 1 Olympic record.

Start with very intense and very tough training under Bob Bowman's watchful eye since age 12. In his peak training for the Beijing Olympics, Phelps was swimming 80,000 meters a week (49.7 miles). If he trained only 6 days a week, Phelps was swimming more than 8 miles every day he trained.

This endurance training is what helped Phelps win his 100 butterfly event at Beijing. Bowman was coach of the University of Michigan men's swim team. Phelps was a student at the school but did not compete for Michigan's swim team because of his professional status.