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How old was Michael Phelps in his last Olympics?

Author

Emily Sparks

Published Jan 15, 2026

Over the course of a week, the 19-year-old Phelps had won five golds and two bronze, his seven-medal haul making it the second biggest in Olympic history behind Mark Spitz, who had won seven golds at Munich 1972.

What age did Michael Phelps retire?

He has actually competed at five Olympics; however, he did not medal at his first Games in Sydney, Australia. He is recognized for his formidable butterfly, though he also specializes in individual medleys and the 100 and 200-meter freestyle. At 31-years-old, Phelps retired from swimming as the greatest of all-time.

Did Michael Phelps go to the 2016 Olympics?

At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Phelps won four gold and two silver medals, and at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, he won five gold medals and one silver.

Did Michael Phelps join 2021 Olympics?

At the U.S. swimming trials, Phelps's influence abounds in athletes he has mentored and counseled as the sport grapples with his retirement from the Games.

What does Michael Phelps eat?

For lunch, he would have half-kilogram of pasta, two large ham and cheese sandwiches on white bread smothered with mayonnaise, and another set of energy drinks. Whereas for dinner, add a pound of pasta with carbonara sauce, a large pizza, and energy drinks.

28 related questions found

What is the age limit for the Olympics swimming?

Gymnastics and track and field have a minimum age requirement of 16 to compete in the Olympics. But divers can be 14. Swimming, on the other hand, allows qualifying athletes of any age to compete.

How old was the oldest person to win an Olympic medal?

So far, the oldest medalist so far in Beijing is France's Johan Clarey. He won his first medal – a silver – at the age of 41. This is after competing in five prior Winter Games and coming nowhere close to the podium. "I made everything late in my life, you know, since I was a young boy," he said after his win.

Who is the youngest person to win an Olympic gold medal?

Gestring became the youngest person ever to win an Olympic gold medal at the age of 13 years and 268 days, in what was considered to be an upset, given her competition.

Did Michael Phelps retire?

Phelps retired for good after the 2016 Rio Games, settling down with his wife and growing family in the Arizona desert. He still carries plenty of gravitas within the sport — most notably revealing his struggles with depression during his career — but the spotlight has been ceded to a worthy generation of successors.

Does Michael Phelps still hold any world records?

Michael Phelps is also the long course world record holder in the men's 400m Individual Medley, the current longest-standing swimming world record on the books. Moreover, he is the former long course world record holder in the 200m Freestyle, 100m Butterfly, 200m Butterfly, and 200m Individual Medley.

What Olympic medals did Michael Phelps win most?

2004 Summer Olympics in Athens

Phelps became a superstar at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, winning eight medals (including six gold), tying with Soviet gymnast Aleksandr Dityatin (1980) for the most medals in a single Olympic Games.

Why did Michael Phelps stop Olympics?

After having issues with alcohol, he focused on a new goal: ending his career the right way in Rio. Before that, Phelps had won eight medals at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, eight medals again (all gold) in Beijing in 2008 and six in London in 2012, for a total of 28 medals (23 gold).

Why did bolt retire?

It was at the 2017 Worlds in London where Bolt sustained a serious hamstring injury that was instrumental in forcing his retirement. The athlete was the anchor runner for Jamaica in the final and Bolt pulled up with 50m remaining with a serious muscular tear.

Who is the youngest Olympian to compete?

Held in Athens, the host country, Greece, was represented by gymnast Dimitrios Loundras who was 10 years old, 216 days at the start of competition, making him the youngest ever Olympian.

Whats the youngest you can be in the Olympics?

According to the sport's governing body, the minimum age to obtain a "license" to compete internationally is 13 years old.

Who is the oldest Olympic 2022?

Oldest athletes at the 2022 Winter Olympics

Japan's Hanae Kubo is the oldest hockey player in Beijing at 39 years old. The Seibu Princess Rabbits veteran is a four-time medalist at the Asian Winter Games. On the men's side, Andreas Ambuhl of Switzerland is the oldest competitor.

Do you have to be 16 to be in the Olympics?

According to the International Olympic Committee's official rules, there is no single age limit for the Olympics. However, each sport's international regulatory body governs the rules of their respective sports, including age eligibility.

Who is the youngest swimmer?

Donna Elizabeth de Varona

Donna Elizabeth de Varona is the youngest Olympic swimmer ever. She made her Olympics debut at the age of just 13 years and 129 days.

How much does an Olympic swimmer make?

While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $72,500 and as low as $17,500, the majority of Olympic Swimmer salaries currently range between $26,500 (25th percentile) to $49,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $61,500 annually across the United States.

Was Michael Phelps double-jointed?

Phelps is also said to be double-jointed, according to a Detroit News blog. His size-14 feet reportedly bend 15 degrees farther at the ankle than most other swimmers, turning his feet into virtual flippers. This flexibility also extends to his knees and elbows, possibly allowing him to get more out of each stroke.

Is Michael Phelps vegan?

The strongest swimmer the world has ever seen weighs just under 200 pounds and fuels up on a mostly plant-based diet. Phelps reportedly eats 12,000 calories a day–that's 4,000 calories per meal, and most of those calories are pizza and pasta.

What foods should swimmers avoid?

Foods to Avoid While Training for Swimmers

  • Spicy and fatty foods. Stay away from anything that causes stomach discomfort from gastrointestinal issues like bloating, cramps, and indigestion. ...
  • High fiber foods. ...
  • Sugary foods. ...
  • Cereals and Granola bars. ...
  • Caffeine.