Famous+Swimmers



Throughout the history of swimming there

have been many amazing swimmers.

I just three American swimmers

of the many great swimmers.

MICHAEL PHELPS

Michael Fred Phelps is an amazing American swimmer. He has a total of 16 Olympic medals of which 14 are gold. He is most commonly known from the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, when he beat Mark Spitz's record for the most gold medals in one Olympics. Phelps was born in Maryland on June 30, 1985. Michael's main stroke is the butterfly. He has always been a butterflier. When he was 15 he broke the record in the 200M fly and was the youngest swimmer to do so. Rumor has it that the 2012 London Olympics will be his last. Rumor also has it that he will never do 8 events again and try new events. A fun fact is that his coach Bob Bowman has trained him since he was 11. Michael Phelps is an amazing swimmer and has won a lot of awards. He has won World Swimmer of the Year six times!!! Also he won American Swimmer of the year 8 times, isn't that amazing!!! In international competitions Phelps has won 59 medals of which 50 are gold, 7 silver and 2 bronze.

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MARK SPITZ

Mark Spitz was one of the the Worlds best swimmers in history.

He was born February 10th, 1950. He is now retired. In the

1972 Olympics he got the world record for most gold swimmming

metals, he got 7 golds. In 2008 Michael Phelps surpassed his

record getting 8 golds at the swimming Olympics. "He was the

most successful athlete at the 1972 Summer Olympics."

"He was named World Swimmer of the Year in 1969, 1971 and

1972." Mark was born in Modesto, California to a Jewish family.

Then when he was 2 Arnold and Lenore, his parents, moved the

family to Hawaii. When he was in Hawaii he swam at Waikiki

beach nearly every day and even when he was just 2 years old! Then at age

6 he started to compete. "Before he was 10, Spitz held 17 national

age-group records, and one world record."

"Then, in 1971, he won the James E. Sullivan Award as

the top amateur athlete in the United States. Following his

various successes, Spitz was nicknamed “Mark the Shark”

by his teammates." Mark was also known for his mustache.

most people think hair will slow you down,but Mark didn't

care. He call his mustache a "good luck piece" and wore it

during the Olympics.



RYAN LOCHTE

Ryan Lochte is a great American swimmer. He was born on August 3,

1984. He has won 3 gold Olympic medals, two silver Olympic

medals and a bronze Olympic medal. He has swam in many

international meets and he has received 37 golds, 11 silvers

and 9 bronze medals making a total of 57 medals. "Lochte

specializes in the backstroke and individual medley, but is

also a freestyle swimmer. He is noted for the speed and distance

he attains while kicking underwater. Lochte is also known for his

dominance in the short course format (25-meter long swimming pool)."

He has won a lot of awards including World Swimmer of the Year Award,

American Swimmer of the Year Award,and FINA swimmer of the Year.

Ryan was born in Canandaigua, New York, son of a swim coach, no wonder he strived!

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