Be it football, soccer, baseball, karate, gymnastics, or any other modern sport. The ones who are good are able to continue playing their hobby in middle and high school which is a great way to represent your school when you face off against other teams. But the luckiest and most dedicated of athletes are able to continue on after school and play their respective sports on a professional level.

four NBA Finals MVP Awards, The Richest Athletes in the World – 2026 List

Who are the highest-paid athletes of 2026? Let’s find out.

10. Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is the captain of the Argentina National Football Team; he also plays as a forward for the Paris Saint-Germain Football Team. Considered one of the greatest footballers of all time, he has won numerous awards including six European Golden Shoes and seven Ballon d’Or Awards. Not only that but he was also named to the Ballon d’Or Dream Team in 2020.

The third of four children, he grew up in a football-loving family in Central Argentina, where he developed a passion for the sport at a young age. At the age of six, he joined the Rosario club and played for Newell’s Old Boys, whom he had always been a fan of. He and his family later relocated to Barcelona, where he enrolled in the Royal Spanish Football Federation. At one point, he even received an offer to join the Arsenal Football Club.

It wasn’t until 2003, however, that he made his first team debut in a match against Futebol Clube do Porto. He was 16 years old at the time. A year later, he joined Barcelona and made his competitive debut and by the time he was 22, he had won his first Ballon d’Or, and in 2008, he won a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

As of 2026, he earns $41 million USD per season.

9. LeBron James

LeBron James is regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Also known as “King James”, he has won numerous awards including four NBA Championships, four NBA Finals MVP Awards, two Olympic Gold Medals, and four NBA MVP Awards. Not only that, but he has also participated in ten NBA Finals, including eight consecutive games from 2011 to 2018.

Introduced to the sport by a local coach, he joined the Northeast Ohio Shooting Stars at the age of nine, where he played with his friends Willie McGee, Dry Joyce III, and Sian Cotton. He later joined the varsity basketball team at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. By the time he was in his junior year, he was called “the best high school basketball player” by Slam Magazine.

In 2003, he was picked first by the Cleveland Cavaliers during the NBA draft. During their first regular season game, he scored a total of 25 points, which set a new NBA record. He later received an NBA Rookie of the Year award at the end of the season.

Since then, he has won two NBA championships and has participated in three Olympic games, two of which ended up in gold medals. Not only that, but he also won a gold medal at the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship in Las Vegas.

8. Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo is a professional football player who plays as a forward for Manchester United. Not only that, but he’s also the captain of the Portugal National Team. Throughout his career, he has won four European Golden Shoes, the most by a European athlete, five Ballon d’Or Awards, seven league titles, and 32 trophies.

Born and raised in Madeira, he began his senior career with the Lisbon-based club, Sporting CP. He later signed with Manchester United at the age of eighteen. Shortly afterward, he won a FA Cup during his first season. By the time he was 23, he had won his first Ballon d’Or Award.

In 2009, he signed for Real Madrid in a transfer worth £80 million. He would go on to win numerous trophies including two Copa del Rey, two La Liga titles, and four Champions Leagues. Not only that, but he also became the all-time top goal scorer of the club.

Since then, he has earned more than 180 caps, making him the most-capped player in Portugal. He has also played in and scored at over 10 tournaments including the Euro 2004, where he scored his first international goal. For his achievements, he received the Golden Boot in 2020.

7. Neymar

Neymar is a professional football player who plays for the Brazil National Team and the Paris Saint-Germain Club. Not only is he a prolific goalscorer, but he’s also a versatile player, being able to play as a winger, second striker, central striker, or attacking midfielder. As of 2026, he has scored over 100 goals for three different clubs, making him one of only three footballers to have achieved this.

Born in Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil, he made his professional debut at the age of 17 as a member of Santos, whom he won two consecutive Campeonato Paulista championships with. He later transferred to PSG in 2017 for €222 million, making him the most expensive player in football history.

In 2015 and 2017, he finished third for the FIFA Ballon d’Or. He has also received a FIFA Puskas Award and has been named the UEFA Team of the Year twice. And in 2016, he was named the fourth-most famous athlete in the world by ESPN. Not only that, but Time Magazine also included him in their “100 most influential people in the world” list.

He has appeared in a number of films as well including Neymar Jr. and the Line of Kings, Money Heist, and Neymar: The Perfect Chaos.

6. Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry is an NBA star who plays for the Golden State Warriors. The son of former NBA player Dell Curry, he’s credited with popularizing the three-point shot and has been named the Most Valuable Player by the NBA twice. Not only that, but he has also won four NBA championships, an NBA All-Star Game MVP Award, and an NBA Finals MVP Award.

After graduating from high school, he joined the Davidson Wildcats, with whom he set a new all-time scoring record. He also set a new NCAA record during his sophomore year and was named conference player of the year twice.

During the 2009 NBA Draft, he was selected by the Golden State Warriors as the seventh pick. He went on to appear in 80 games during the 2009-2010 season and averaged 17.5 points in 36 minutes. He later signed a four-year, $44 million contract extension with the team in 2012.

The following season, he set a new NBA record for three-pointers made. He and his teammate Play Thompson also earned the nickname “Splash Brothers” for their incredible shooting abilities.

5. Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant is a professional basketball player who plays for the Brooklyn Nets. After playing one season of college basketball, he was chosen second by the Seattle SuperSonics during the 2007 NBA Draft. He went on to play for the team for nine seasons before transferring to the Golden State Warriors in 2016.

Since then, he has won two Olympic Gold medals and has been named to ten All-NBA teams. Not only that, but he has also won two NBA championships, two NBA All-Star Game MVP Awards, two Finals MVP Awards, and four NBA scoring titles, among several other awards. Due to an Achilles injury, which he sustained during the 2019 finals, however, he sat out the entire 2019-2020 season. He later returned to the court for the 2020-2021 season.

As of 2026, he is one of the highest-earning basketball players worldwide, due in part to endorsement deals with Nike and Footlocker.

Outside of basketball, he also enjoys writing and photography. In 2012, he also made his acting debut in the film Thunderstruck.

4. Roger Federer

Roger Federer is a Swiss professional tennis player. Throughout his career, he has won 103 Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) singles titles, including 20 Grand Slam titles, six year-end championships, and eight men’s singles Wimbledon titles. He also became the oldest ATP world number one in 2018; he was 36 years old at the time.

The youngest of two siblings, he played his first junior match at the age of 14 in Switzerland. He eventually made his ATP debut at the 1998 Swiss Open Gstaad. While he lost in the first round, he went on to win against Guillaume Raoux in Toulouse.

It wasn’t until the 2001 Wimbledon Championships, however, that he became known internationally. Not long afterward, he won his first Grand Slam singles title after beating Mark Philippoussis and Andy Roddick.

He also represented Switzerland at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he won a gold medal in doubles, and at the 2012 London Olympics, where he won a silver medal in the singles event.

One of the highest-paid athletes in the world, he’s said to have earned $100 million in endorsement income alone in 2020.

3. Canelo Álvarez

Canelo Alvarez is a professional boxer from Mexico. An excellent counterpuncher, he has won several world championships in four weight classes from light heavyweight to light middleweight. Not only that, but he’s also the first and only boxer to have become an undisputed champion in the super middleweight class.

Born on July 18, 1990, he began boxing at the age of 13 after watching his older brother’s boxing debut. By 2004, he had won a silver medal at the Junior Mexican Championships. After winning the Junior Nationals twice, he made his professional debut in 2005.

Outside of boxing, he enjoys playing golf. He’s also a boxing promoter in Mexico and launched his own company called Canelo Promotions in 2010, with whom he shares with his trainers, Eddy and Chepo Reynoso.

2. Tom Brady

Tom Brady is an NFL quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, he holds nearly every record including touchdown passes, games started, passing yards, and completions. Not only that, but at age 44, he’s also the oldest quarterback to have been selected to the Pro Bowl.

The youngest of four siblings, he developed a passion for the sport after attending football camp as a child. He eventually attended Junipero Serra High School, where he played football, baseball, and basketball. By the time he was in his senior year, he was striving to be noticed by college coaches. He even created tapes and sent them to colleges he considered attending.

He eventually went to the University of Michigan, where he played college football from 1995 to 1999. Despite his achievements, however, it wasn’t until the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft that he was selected by the New England Patriots. Since then, he has led the team to 17 division titles, nine Super Bowl appearances, 13 AFC Championship Games, and six Super Bowl Titles.

More recently in 2020, he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with whom he won the Super Bowl LV.

Outside of football, he has appeared on a number of TV shows including The Simpsons, Family Guy, and Entourage. He even hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live in 2005. And in 2016, he launched his own website called, TB12Sports, which features information about his training regimen and includes an online store that sells various equipment, merchandise, and snacks.

Last year, he also co-founded a sports-based NFL platform called Autograph, with Richard Rosenblatt.

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo is a Greek-Nigerian NBA player that plays for the Milwaukee Bucks. Born and raised in Athens, he began playing basketball for various youth teams as a teen. He later played for the Filathlitikos club’s senior team before participating in the 2013 NBA Draft, where he was chosen 15th overall by the Bucks. Not long afterward, he received the NBA Most Improved Player Award in 2017.

One of the most decorated players in basketball, he has won two consecutive NBA MVP Awards (LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are the only other players to have won two MVPs before turning 26), two NBA All-Star Awards, a Best Male Athlete ESPY Award, and an NBA Finals MVP Award, among several others awards. Not only that but he was also given the “NBA Defensive Player of the Year” title in 2020.

And last year, he led the Bucks to their first NBA championships since the early 70s. That same year, he was honored as one of the greatest NBA players of all time.

Known for his size, speed, ball-handling skills, and strength, he’s one of the NBA’s most devastating slashers and scorers. On top of that, he’s recognized as an elite defensive player (he’s a proficient shot-blocker and is capable of guarding all five positions).

The post Top 10 Richest Athletes in the World – 2026 Update appeared first on Gazette Review.

Simone Biles Net Worth: $2.6 Million

How did Simone Biles make her money & wealth?

Early Life

Looking at Simone’s childhood, it is easy to understand why she calls it a difficult one. Her mother, Shanon, had struggled with a drug and alcohol addiction when her four children were still young and was left unable to fully take care of them. As a result, Simone and her three siblings constantly moved in and out of their foster care homes. Their father was no different, Kelvin Clemons left when his children were still young after having similar problems to his wife. Simone’s grandfather, Ron, saw all this unfold and decided to step in and give his grandchildren the childhood they deserved.

Ron officially adopted Simone and her sister, Adria, after three years of temporary care. Ron’s sister adopted the two older siblings. Simone’s grandfather was a respectable individual with high standards that were far from those of his daughter’s. Ron served in the US Air Force and Federal Aviation Administration as an air-traffic controller.

Education

As a result of her significant involvement in her sporting career from a young age, Simone had to be home schooled through the course of her secondary education. After graduating in 2015, she announced on Twitter that she was going to attend UCLA. Her decision to turn professional in the same year forfeited her eligibility for NCAA, but this wasn’t a major issue given where her sporting career had taken her thus far.

Early Career

Simone’s interest in gymnastics sparked from the young age of 6 when she tried it out during a field trip. It was recommended that she continued the sport and she began training with a personal coach two years later. Her career officially began in 2011 when she participated in the American Classic in Houston. She achieved high ratings all round in the tournament and later attended the U.S Classic in Chicago to further expand her portfolio. She continued to participate in numerous events around her home state throughout her junior career.

Senior Career

Simone made her international debut at the 2013 American Cup, where she was a replacement for Elizabeth prince, who withdrew due to injuries. She placed second behind her teammate – not a bad start for a young aspiring gymnast from Ohio. Immediately after that, she flew to Italy to compete in the City of Jesolo Trophy where she helped her team win gold in numerous disciplines including the balance beam, floor titles and vault. She went on to compete a large list of other events including the USA Gymnastics National Championships, the World Artistic Gymnastic Championships and many others, all in the same year.

Moving into 2014, Simone competed in at the USA Gymnastics National Championships, where she once again became a national-all-round champion, winning gold on the vault and floor, giving her a position in the Senior National Team for a second time. One of her standout events for the year was the 2014 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in China, where she did exceptionally well in all her disciplines despite a few minor errors.

In the next two years, Simone competed in numerous international events, gaining her iconic status around the world. She became a role model for young athletes and she even had a parade set up for her when coming back to her home in Texas. She obtained numerous Olympic gold medals and a multitude of prestigious awards. The most noteworthy of which can be owed to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, where she obtained four gold medals and one bronze.

Simone Biles Salary & Annual Earnings 2016

According to moneynation, the American athlete was worth around $60,000 in 2013 when she was moving into her senior career. This figure moved up to $300,000 in 2015 after her winning streak became more prevalent. In 2016, her net worth moved up to over $2 million before the Olympic games even started. Factoring in cash prizes and winnings over the past year, this figure moves to around $2.5 million, making Simone one wealthy teenager.

Simone Biles Relationships

Considering her involvement in her career and the fact that Simone is only 19 years old, it goes without saying that time for significant others is very sparse. Up until now, Simone has not settled with anyone yet.  The only relationship that’s been making its way around the rumor mill, is that the gold medal gymnast, may have an off and on relationship with fellow gymnast, Arthur Nory Mariano, a Brazilian bronze medalist she met in 2013.

Simone Biles House

Her busy life has left her with little time for settling down in one single location. Simone current still resides in her grandparent’s Texas home, decking out her bedroom with purple accents and even a life-sized cut out of Zac Efron, who she claims is her celebrity crush. She says that she is happy with her current home and shares a close relationship with her sister, who is also an aspiring gymnast.

How much does Simone Biles make per event?

For most events, the American gymnast’s earnings are based on the medals she earns. Generally speaking, bronze medals go for around $10 000, silvers for $15 000 and gold medals fetch a cool $10 000 on top of that. Endorsements and sponsorships are sure to increase that figure to something much more significant, hence her multi-million dollar net worth.

Simone Biles Charity & Philanthropy

Even at a young age, Simone has become accustomed to giving back to those in need. She participated in the Kids Wish network, where she granted a young girl, Melinda Ortega’s wish to attend the Kellogg Tour of Gymnastics Championships 2016 event in Philadelphia. The American gymnast went on to say how Melinda’s strength through the difficult time was an inspiration to her and the other gymnasts who met the young girl.

Simone Biles Accomplishments

Apart from being one of the most successful US gymnasts of all time, Simone is one of only two African American female US gymnasts to win both the individual and team all-round gold at the same Olympic games. She was even chosen by her the US team to be the flag bearer for the Rio Olympic games, something very few people get to do. She also holds the record for most gold medals won in woman’s gymnastics at a single games. She was chosen by BBC as one of the Top 100 Women for 2016.

The post Simone Biles Net Worth – How Rich is Simone Biles appeared first on Gazette Review.

The Top 10 Richest Olympic Athletes in Rio – 2018 Update

This list isn’t about the daily slog of a struggling athlete, however. It’s about those that indeed have managed to attain stardom and make fortunes out of playing sports. Here, out of everyone that will be participating in the 2018 Olympics this year, are the richest Olympic athletes of them all.

#10 – Andy Murray Net Worth 2018 – $70 million

Starting this list, we have ­­reigning Olympic champion in men’s singles tennis Andy Murray. He has also earned silver in mixed doubles playing alongside Laura Robson. He will again be part of Team Great Britain this upcoming Olympics, where he will defend his title in men’s singles and possibly compete in both doubles (with his brother Jamie Murray) and mixed doubles (presumably with Laura Robson).

Murray is ranked second in the world in tennis and has won both Wimbledon and the French Open. This, along with endorsements for Under Armour and other sponsors has earned him a net worth of $70 million. Interestingly enough, he’s turned down millions of dollars in endorsements because he doesn’t believe in the product.

#10 – Sergio Garcia Net Worth 2018 – $70 million

Sergio Garcia is technically tied with Andy Murray up there. I just went alphabetically. Or possibly by success. Garcia has the dubious honor of being the highest earning golfer on the PGA tour without a major championship win. To his credit, he has been runner-up four times and won over 20 international tournaments. He’ll represent Spain in Rio, where he’ll hope to replicate his international success.

With tournament earnings and endorsements, Garcia has a net worth of $70 million. His biggest endorsement is a $5.6 million-a-year contract with TaylorMade-Adidas. It appeared briefly in 2013 that he would lose this endorsement after a racist remark about serving Tiger Woods fried chicken. Garcia has since shown great remorse and apologized.

#8 – Venus Williams Net Worth 2018 – $75 million

Did you mean: Serena Williams

Nah, just kidding. Venus Williams is one of the world’s best tennis players in her own right. She’s won seven Grand Slam singles titles, more than any other active female players other than her younger sister. She’s also won Olympic gold four times, once in singles in the 2000 Sydney Olympics and thrice in women’s doubles.

She’ll be competing for Team USA in women’s singles this summer and partnering up with Serena in hopes of repeating their success in women’s doubles.

Venus Williams has a net worth of $75 million, which she’s earned through tournament winnings, endorsements, and her very own athletic fashion line, EleVen.

#7 – Rafael Nadal Net Worth 2018 – $100 million

Rafael Nadal has been nicknamed the King of Clay for his unparalleled mastery of clay tennis courts. He’s won 14 Grand Slam singles titles including nine French Open wins and the 2008 Olympic gold medal in singles. He is the second male player to achieve a career Golden Slam.

After a blistering first few rounds in the French Open this May, he was forced to withdraw early due to a wrist injury. The same injury will keep him sidelined for Wimbledon, but he is predicted to return in time to compete for Spain in the 2016 Olympics.

Nadal sits at a net worth of $100 million. He spends his money well – he is known for uniquely wearing an $800,000 custom-made Richard Mille watch while playing. He also may often be found yachting at one of his three luxury estates.

#6 –Kevin Durant Net Worth 2018 – $120 million

In some sports, Olympic gold is considered the pinnacle of achievement, the standard that all other prizes fall short of. Basketball is not one of them. Thus it’s not really a surprise that ahead of the Zika scare, the majority of the predicted all-star Team USA members have dropped out.

Oklahoma City Thunder player Kevin Durant is the rare exception. He’s repeatedly confirmed his desire to play in Rio, where he’ll be looking to earn his second gold medal.

As one of the NBA’s (National Basketball Association) top players, Durant has led his team to a Finals appearance and won numerous awards, including four scoring titles and the MVP Award. Correspondingly, he’s also one of the NBA’s top paid and endorsed players, with a net worth of $120 million. His next contract could top $200 million when he heads to free agency this summer.

#5 – Serena Williams Net Worth 2018 – $145 million

At 34, Serena Williams holds domination over the women’s tennis court. She is presently ranked No. 1 and considered by many to be the greatest female tennis player of all time. She holds 36 major titles in total, the most among all active players, and is the only person in history of have achieved a career Grand Slam in both singles and doubles. She has won four Olympic gold medals, one in singles (2012) and three in doubles.

She’s also earned the most prize money of any female athlete ever at $36 million. This year, for the first time in her career, Williams placed first on the list of highest paid female athletes with earnings of $28.9 million. This was added to her net worth of $145 million.

Williams will seek to add to her impressive arsenal of awards in Rio.

#4 – Novak Djokovic Net Worth 2018 – $160 million

Let’s be honest – with injuries besieging many of his competitors and in the prime of his career, Serbian-born Novak Djokovic is at present the strongest player in men’s tennis. He currently holds all four Grand Slam major titles, only the third man to do so at once. Unsurprisingly, he’s ranked no. 1 in the world.

His success rate at the Olympics is a bit less impressive – he’s won a grand total of one bronze medal in Beijing in 2008. He’ll be looking to improve his record this summer.

He sits at a net worth of $160 million, nearly all of which was obtained through his tennis career, although he does have several lucrative endorsement deals.

#3 – Maria Sharapova Net Worth 2018 – $195 million

Three months ago, Maria Sharapova was on top of the world. Her illustrious career had included Olympic silver, a career Grand Slam, countless endorsements, and let’s face it – an exceptional attractiveness that altogether had earned her a net worth of $195 million. She had been the world’s highest-paid female athlete for 11 years straight. Then it all came crashing down. In a press conference, Sharapova admitted to testing positive for Meldonium, a banned substance. Her legacy was tarnished, many of her endorsements were suspended, and Sharapova was banned from playing tennis for two years.

So it was a surprise to everyone when she was named to Russia’s 2016 Olympic tennis team. Sharapova has stated that she will appeal the ban and hopes to play in Rio. The success of her appeal remains to be seen.

#2 – Roger Federer Net Worth 2018 – $350 million

Roger Federer is a name that over the years has become more or less synonymous with tennis. Known for both his prodigious skills that have most regarding him as the best tennis player of all time and his perfect hair, it’s no wonder that his net worth is an astounding $350 million. In 2016, he’s ranked fourth on Forbes’ list of highest paid athletes worldwide. He’s extremely generous with his money and has contributed extensively to charity.

Over his 18-year professional career, Federer has won 17 Grand Slam singles titles. He is currently ranked No. 3, but held the No. 1 position for a record-breaking 302 weeks.

He’ll be joining the Swiss team and aiming for three medals in the upcoming Olympics: men’s singles (he placed second in 2012), mixed doubles with Martina Hingis, and men’s doubles with Stan Wawrinka (who he won gold in 2008 with.)

#1 – Rory McIlroy Net Worth 2018 – $422 million

Usually celebrities laugh and dismiss their purported internet net worth as ridiculously high. Turns out golfer Rory McIlroy was laughing in the other direction, all the way to the bank. Previously estimated to be worth $80-$90 million, documents filed by his management company Rory McIlroy Inc. revealed him to be worth a jaw-dropping $422 million. This is second in the golfing world to only his childhood hero Tiger Woods.McIlroy can attribute his wealth to a combination of on-course earnings, endorsement deals with Nike, Bose, and Omega, among others, and good investments.

How does his performance on the green match up? He’s currently ranked third on the Official World Golf Ranking, previously ranked first for 95 weeks, and is a four-time major champion.

He’s announced that he will play for Ireland in the 2016 Olympics despite wavering concerns over the Zika virus.

Bonus:

#11 –DeMarcus Cousins Net Worth 2018 –$62 million

After unwavering enthusiasm for the Olympics, the Sacramento Kings’ DeMarcus Cousins recently earned a spot on the Team USA basketball team. Congratulations Boogie! Cousins has an estimated net worth of $62 million.

#12 – Michael Phelps Net Worth 2018 – $55 million

Michael Phelps was actually the first name I wrote down. With a net worth of $55 million, he was moved down again and again before finally being kicked off entirely. The most decorated Olympian and swimmer of all time with 22 medals, Phelps came out of retirement to join the upcoming Olympics.

When I started this list, I expected it to be mostly made up of basketball and tennis stars with perhaps a few vaunted personages from other disciplines sneaking their way in. See: Phelps, Michael. See also: Bolt, Usain, who despite being the fastest human on the planet, can only lay claim to a measly $30 million.

Instead, the threat of the Zika virus devastated the ranks of the men’s basketball team. (LeBron James, by the way has not yet officially opted out, although his participation isn’t likely. He would have been third with a net worth of $267 million.)

Perhaps the tennis players deserve this. Several of them did express doubts, but their overall commitment to the Olympics and compete level appear unmatched. And so do, for the most part, their bank accounts.

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Hailed as one of the top athletes that has ever lived, Michael Phelps certainly defines what it means to truly be great. Phelps is best known for his competition swimming, through which he became the most decorated Olympian of all time, collecting 22 medals so far throughout his career. For a long time, it was almost as if Michael Phelps could do no wrong. Winning medal after medal, absolutely decimating world records, Phelps earned a place among the greatest of all time. However, after the 2012 London Olympics, Michael suddenly decided to retire from the sport. Just like that, this icon of greatness and success had disappeared, and the world seemed to move on. So the question now stands, what exactly happened to Michael Phelps? With the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro fast approaching, many will be wondering whether the most decorated Olympian of all time will make a return to compete, just one more time.

Early Life and Rise to Prominence

Michael Fred Phelps II was born on June 30, 1985, in Baltimore, Maryland. Like many top-tier athletes, Phelps started at a very young age, starting swimming at the age of 7. Many wonder if people are born great, or if greatness is something that is worked upon over time. Well, for Michael, his natural prowess in the sport was apparent almost immediately. Phelps set his first national record by the age of 10, and only 5 years later, he qualified for the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney. Although he did not win a medal, he did finish an impressive 5th place among a slew of older, more experienced competitors. Phelps though, would only continue to improve. At the age of 15 years and 9 months, Michael became the youngest male ever to set a world record in competitive swimming during the trials for the 2001 World Aquatics Championships.

Olympic Dominance and Retirement

The 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens marked the beginning of what would develop into Phelps’ Olympic ascendancy. Phelps was signed on for 8 events, and went on to make a tremendous impact in each of them. Out of the 8 events he competed in, Michael won gold medals in 6 of them, and finished with bronze medals for the other two. The only event that Michael participated in that did not result in his breaking a record was the 4x100m freestyle event. Absolutely dominating the competition, Michael set Olympic records in the 100m butterfly, 200m butterfly, and 200m medley, while setting world records in the 400m medley and the 4x100m medley. Behind fellow swimmer Mark Spitz, Michael’s 6 gold and 2 bronze medals resulted in the second-best performance ever at a single Olympic games.

Although the Athens Olympics proved to be monumental for Phelps, the arguable highlight of his career came with the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Once again, Phelps was signed up for 8 events, although this time, Phelps performed magnificently in all of them. Phelps won gold in each of the events he participated in, as well as setting world records for 7 out of 8 of the events. In the 100m butterfly, although a world record wasn’t set, Michael quite convincingly set an Olympic record with his time. This time around, Phelps did not leave Mark Spitz’s record unbroken, as his 8 gold medals signified that he had achieved the best performance at a single Olympic Games. His performance was so astonishing, in fact, that rumors began circulating that Phelps may have been using performance-enhancing drugs. Michael simply shrugged this off however, and passed all of the drug tests that were later administered to him.

On July 28, 2012, Michael began his first event in what he remarked would likely be his last Olympics. Thus, the 2012 Olympic Games in London was anticipated by many to perhaps be the stage where Michael would perform at his best. Although still impressive, his performance was nowhere near the calibre of the one he produced four years earlier in Beijing. Participating in only 6 events, Michael finished with 4 gold medals and 2 silver medals, not breaking any records along the way. Regardless, his finish in this Olympics still held great significance, as it was after this Olympics when he was officially recognized as the most decorated Olympic athlete to have ever lived.

What’s Michael Phelps Doing Now in 2018 – Recent Updates

Thankfully, Michael Phelps’ retirement was short-lived, as Phelps came out of retirement in April of 2014. Eager to continue his reign as arguably the greatest swimmer in the world, Phelps soon began training. A month after announcing his return, Phelps won the 100m butterfly at the Arena Grand Prix that took place in Charlotte, North Carolina. The following year, Phelps also competed in the 2015 United States Nationals competition, where he won gold in the 200m butterfly, 100m butterfly, and the 200m individual medley. Michael has also expressed a very clear interest in participating in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, although he is also insisted that the Olympics will be his last.

Regardless of how he may perform in the 2016 games, Michael Phelps has already more than justified his association with the term “greatness.” Admittedly, there are very few people who are ever going to be able to do what Michael Phelps has done throughout his career so far. However, this is not to say that greatness can only be achieved at this level, but rather that there needs to be something that definitely places one above and beyond the competitors in their field. Everyone can be great, but not everyone will be. Those who have achieved greatness have worked tirelessly to do what they do at the highest level. If the word continues to be used too nonchalantly, we may fail to appreciate true “greatness,” whenever and wherever we might witness it unfold. 

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