Information AboutMichael Phelps |
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Michael Fred Phelps II (born Summer Nationals in Fort Lauderdale , Phelps also broke the world record for the 400 m Individual Medley and set American marks in the 100 m butterfly and the 200 m individual medley. In . He won the 2003 Sullivan Award . 2004 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES Phelps' dominance has brought comparisons to former swimming great , a gymnast, in the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. Had he won seven golds, he would have been eligible for a US $1 million bonus from his sponsor, Speedo . Only a few days before the beginning of the Swimming competition in Athens 2004 , however, Gary Hall Jr. and Jason Lezak , both of whom were aiming to be on the U.S. 4x100 m freestyle team, publicly criticized the possibility of allowing Phelps to swim in the event. In the view of some, they claimed that Phelps is not a top swimmer in the event and his presence could compromise the US team's performance in the name of what was called a " Media Circus " for Phelps to win eight gold medals. More specifically though, they claimed that he had not swum the 100 m freestyle at Olympic Trials, and although having posted one of the top times in the nation, he should not have expected to gain an automatic berth. On he was beaten by the Australian winner Ian Thorpe and the Dutch Pieter Van Den Hoogenband in 200 m freestyle final, called the ''race of the century''. On August 20 , in the 100 m butterfly final, Phelps defeated American teammate Ian Crocker (who holds the world record in the event) by just 0.04 seconds. Traditionally, the Olympian who places highest in an individual event will be automatically given the corresponding leg of the 4x100 m medley relay. This gave Phelps an automatic entry into the medley relay, but as he was exhausted from the many races he had competed in over the preceding week, he graciously gave up the butterfly leg in the finals to Crocker. The American medley team went on to win the event in world record time, and since he had raced in a preliminary heat of the medley relay, Phelps was also awarded a gold medal along with the team members that competed in the final. ''See also: Swimming At The 2004 Summer Olympics '' SELECTED EVENTS Phelps graduated Towson High School in the Summer of 2003. On November 4 , 2004 , Phelps was arrested in Salisbury, Maryland for Driving Under The Influence after being pulled over for running a stop sign in his Land Rover with two friends. Phelps, who was 19 at the time (21 is the legal drinking age in Maryland), was arrested and cited for driving under the influence of Alcohol . His specific Blood Alcohol Content was .08. Phelps pled guilty to Driving While Impaired , avoiding charges of Driving Under The Influence , Underage Drinking and failure to stop at a stop sign. On December 29 , 2004 , Phelps was sentenced to 18 months of probation. He was also fined $250, required to attend a Mothers Against Drunk Driving meeting, and to give speeches to students at three high schools by June 1, 2005. As of 2005 , Phelps is attending University Of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan . Phelps is following his longtime coach, Bob Bowman , who left Phelps' previous swim team, the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, to become the head swimming coach of the University Of Michigan varsity swim team. Phelps is also serving as a volunteer assistant coach and is taking classes, intending to major in sports marketing or sports management. Phelps cannot swim for the team, however, because his endorsement deals with Speedo and other companies have caused him to forfeit his amateur status. MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS International LC: long course - 50 m pool; SC: short course - 25 m pool. U.S. National Titles :100 m free (3): '05 SPG, '04 SPG, '03 SUM :200 m free (4): '05 SPG, '04 SPG, '03 SUM (AR), '03 SPG :400 m free (2): '05 SPG, '03 SUM (AR) :200 m back (3): '04 SPG, '03 SUM, '03 SPG :100 m fly (5): '05 SPG, '04 SPG (USO), '03 SPG, '02 SUM (AR), ’01 SUM :200 m fly (3): '05 SUM, '02 SUM (USO), '01 SPG (WR) :200 m IM (5): '05 SPG, '04 SPG, '03 SUM (WR), '02 SUM (AR), ’01 SUM :400 m IM (1): '02 SUM (WR) KRM RECORDS EXTERNAL LINKS
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