Michael Phelps is known principally as the most decorated Olympian of all time, with a total of 28 Olympic medals, 23 of them gold. He has actually competed at 5 olympics,however he did not medal at his 1st games in Sydney,Australia.Then he is recognized for his formidable butterfly, though he also specializes in individual medleys and the 100 meter and 200 meter freestyle. At 31 years old, Phelps retired from swimming as the greatest of all-time.