Full coverage: 2016 Rio Olympics
One of the biggest attractions in the Rio Olympics is the US swimming powerhouse, Michael Phelps. So far, the "Baltimore Bullet" has bagged 22 Olympic gold medals and continues his reign in Rio.
So far, the "Baltimore Bullet" has bagged 22 Olympic gold medals and continues his reign in Rio.
In his fifth Olympic games, USA swimmer Michael Phelps is once again dominating the competition.
His Olympic career began in Sydney in 2000-when he was just 15. He didn't take home a medal that year. But in Athens, 2004, he won eight medals then took home eight more in Beijing in 2008- and six medals in London 2012.
In Rio he has been perfect... winning four gold medals so far.
But his success in Rio was anything but certain a few year ago. After the 2012 London games, Phelps announced his retirement.
"I think every step of my career has been something that is very meaningful, from making my first Olympic team in 2000, at 15, to where we are today here finishing up in London. It's been a great career, a great journey, I can't be any more happier than I am," he said.
Then, in 2014, he surprised the swimming world and announced he was coming out of retirement, but he would soon enter the darkest period of his life. He was arrested for drunk driving.
He was also arrested on similar charges back in 2004 and in 2009 this picture of Phelps apparently smoking marijuana surfaced.
Two years ago, he spent six weeks in rehab and received probation on the 2014 drunk driving charge. He seemed to emerge from the challenges humbled and with a new focus.
"The last three months of my life have been some of the hardest times I've ever gone through, and some of the biggest learning experiences that I've ever had, finding a lot about myself. For this day, I'm happy to be moving forward, and I'll continue to grow from this," he said.
Since then Phelps's life has been on the upswing. He's engaged to a former beauty queen and their first child was born in May.
"Fatherhood has been awesome. You know, it's still crazy. When I'm holding him or laying on the couch with him, it's just awesome being able to welcome a new person into this world, and Nicole and I couldn't be happier," he said.
Heading in to Rio he vowed to use all his experiences - good and bad -to lead the U.S. swimming team.
"I've learned a lot both in the pool and out of the pool, so anything I can help these young guys, which is something I've been trying to do now," he said.
The U.S. Olympic Committee pays American athletes 25 thousand dollars for each gold medal, so Phelps has already won 100 thousand dollars in Rio for his medals, but the real money comes from endorsements and advertising. Michael Phelps has been paid nearly 100 million dollars by advertisers over the years and will likely make millions more in the years to come.
