All eyes are on swimming phenom Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, as he prepares to hit the pool for the Olympics in Rio. Here are 10 things you might not have known about the super athlete they call the “human fish.”
—When Phelps was 15, he became the youngest swimmer on the U.S. Olympic team since 1932.
—In Bejiing in 2008, Phelps won eight gold medals, the most of any athlete in a single Olympic games.
—Rather than just one swim cap, Phelps prefers to wear two so that he is more aerodynamic.
—Phelps’ teammates like to call him “Gomer”, but most people call him “Iron Mike”.
—Since he wears a size 14 shoe, sometimes people playfully refer to his feet as “fins”.
—Phelps’ renowned dolphin-like kick can be attributed to his double-jointed knees and elbows.
—When Michael Phelps was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, aka ADHD, he says it was his mother, Debbie, who taught him to focus—in and out of the pool.
—He watches SportsCenter and sleeps in order to relax when he’s done in the pool.
—Even Michael Phelps—the most decorated Olympian of all time—has a favorite athlete. His happens to be Michael Jordan.
—To prepare for the Olympics, Phelps swims for two to five hours a day, six to seven days a week.
Visit teamusa.org to learn more about the Olympics in Rio.
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