The fast and thrilling life of Baltimore Bullet - Michael Phelps
(Part 1)
Michael Phelps is one of the all-time greatest athletes, racers, sportsperson and icons of the world. In fact, he might literally be the best of the best - the most enthralling and accomplished athlete the world has ever seen.
The sort of feats this fastest man in water has achieved in his short life has been somewhat of a revelation. Phelps has made himself a contender of becoming the sportsperson of the century. His achievements, awards and honours would take immensely long
to explain and glorify more than they already are. Michael Phelps, the U.S. born swimmer, is arguably the most glorious athlete to ever step foot on this planet.
The living legend was born on 30th June, 1985 and the speedster spend his childhood in Townson, Maryland, which was close to Baltimore City. The swimming genius had begun swimming when he was barely eight years old.
The reason why he started out as a child was because he had a surplus of energy in him. As a kid, he was diagnosed with a hyper activity disorder. So, he would need to use up all the extra energy his body would create.
Soon, he joined a training centre. It was an Aquatic Club close by his home where his trainer groomed him and made him a fabulous swimmer when he had only turned 10 years of age. It was at that time that he first held the national record in his age category.
Phelps began chasing and making records with each passing year. The gifted boy was accumulating awards and achievements at a rapid rate. In the summers of 2000 when he had just turned 15, he qualified for the Olympics that year.
He is remembered as the youngest boy to be a part of America's swimming team which was specially made for that year’s Olympics. He managed to somehow make it to the finals but did not pick up a medal.
A year later, when the trials for the World Aquatics Championships were taking place, he broke a world record that was set for the 200 meters butterfly style. He was still two months shy of turning sixteen.
It automatically made him the only player at that age to ever make a global record in a swimming competition. After the trials, he would go on to break his own record whilst he would also obtain a world champion status the first time ever as well.
Thereafter, the young champion and an American hero would go on to achieve swimming medals, awards and achievements like no other man has in the history of swimming. He would go on to win a mighty impressive 16 medals in all the Olympics that he took part
in. Out of these sixteen, fourteen would be gold and only two bronze medals.
When he received five gold medals in individual events, he had actually tied a 20 year old record which Eric Heiden had made at the December Olympics in the 80’s.
The rocket-man also surpassed Mark Spitz when he achieved eight shinning gold medals at the Beijing Olympics and broke a record that had been standing for 36 long years. What a moment that must have been in Olympic swimming history. Such was the glory of
the boy that he did what no other man could do for 36 years, and he did it at only 23 years of age. The audacity of the great Phelps was purely applause-worthy.
The Baltimore Bullet’s achievements made him get the International Swimmer of the Year Award as well as the American Swimmer of the Year Award, six and eight times respectively.
In all the major global competitions, he has so far amassed a total of 50 gold medals and was the first one to reach that mountain peak. He also has seven silver medals to his name and just the two bronze medals.
The speedster of the year, Michael Phelps, for his unmatched performances in 2008, was given the International Sports Person of the Year Award by none other than the 'Sports Illustrated' magazine.
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