Speaking Topics

Biography

Michael Phelps is the most successful Olympian of all time. Known as The Baltimore Bullet or The Flying Fish, Phelps is instantly recognisable across the sporting world. Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Phelps won a callosal 28 Olympic medals including 23 golds across four Olympic Games and various swimming events. A supremely talented swimmer who excelled at different lengths as swimming styles including backstroke, butterfly, freestyle and individual medley. Specialising at short distances due to his awesome speed, he also won medals in team events often providing the extra metre needed for his to prize victory away from some of the greatest swimming nations in the world. Now focusing on motivational speaking, Phelps inspires audiences across the world with his tales of success and dedication.

A keen swimmer since the early age of 7, Phelps started breaking national records as early as 10 and showed immense promise for someone so young. His rise to world domination continued the next year as he held 11 records in his age group. By 2000, Michael was ready to join the USA Olympic swimming team and became the youngest male team member for 68 years. Making his Olympic debut at the 200m butterfly, Phelps claimed fifth place at Sydney 2000 Olympics aged just 15.

His most successful games was at the Bejing 2008 Olympics when he won a record-breaking eight gold medals. This followed six golds and two bronze medals at the Athens 2004 Games, and later he won four golds and two silver medals at the London 2012 Olympics and five golds and one silver medal at Rio 2016 Olympics. Such was his dominance and raw talent, Phelps was the most decorated Olympian four consecutive Games.

As well as his awards from swimming faster than any other human on the planet, he has received global recognition including Swimming World World Swimmer of the Year Award on 11 occasions, Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year award in 2008 and in 2017 he received the Laureus Comeback of the Year Award. Phelps recorded 39 world records (29 individual, 10 relays), surpassing Mark Spitz’s previous record of 33. Phelps also holds 23 Guinness World Records consisting predominantly of accumulative Guinness World Records such as Most world records set for swimming (male), Most searched for sportsman on the internet (current) and Most Olympic gold medals in team swimming.

Aside from his work as an Olympic speaker, Phelps is an active philanthropist, launching the Michael Phelps Foundation in 2008 which helps to encourage young people to swim and live healthier lifestyles. Phelps has also shared his personal experience of mental health issues and supports efforts to eradicate the stigma around mental disorders such as ADHD, anxiety and depression. In 2017, Phelps became a board member of Medibio, which focuses on diagnosing mental health disorders. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Michael served as a commentator and analyst for NBC, providing coverage of swimming events and other segments.

Phelps is arguably the greatest Olympic speaker on the speaking circuit and he shares his experiences openly and with humility and humour. Based on his experience over many years at the very top, Phelps speaks on topics including sacrifice and dedication, teamwork, his love of swimming and the winning mentality.

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Videos of Michael Phelps

Client Feedback

Ciena

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"Michael Phelps' talk was by far the most buzzed-about piece. People first couldn't believe that MP was actually talking to us, and secondly were blown away by his candour and vulnerability. It made a huge impact"

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- Holly, Ciena

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