When runner Leonidas of Rhodes wrapped up his third Olympic Games back in 152 BC with twelve crowns, he became the most decorated Olympian ever. Michael Phelps has now tied that record for the most individual titles, as he scooped up his 12th gold medal in the 200 metre butterfly event.
Today, if you include his team golds which take his total to 21, and add his other four to make it 25, Michael Phelps has more gold medals than some countries, 174 of them to be exact. He has more gold medals than India actually. So what makes Michael Phelps this good? He’s the consummate athlete. Even at 31, he still practices very regularly, sometimes
for up to 10 hours a day. He’s got a great build for winning
at swimming competitions “ long arms, short legs and a
well-shaped torso. But that’s not just enough, he has the drive.
Considering he made his Olympic debut at age 15, he has now
beaten swimmers who once looked up to him, their childhood
hero. Can he compete in another Olympics in four years’ time?
Leonidas retired at the age of 36, so there’s still time for Phelps
to become an even bigger legend.
