A hyperactive Phelps was encouraged into swimming aged seven to give his boundless energy an outlet.
By the time he had swum his last race in Rio five years ago the American had become the most decorated Olympian of all time with 23 gold medals, three silver and two bronze – 13 of the golds in individual events, another record.
And to think the “Baltimore Bullet” came home empty-handed from his first Games at Sydney 2000, aged 15.
He struck gold six times in Athens four years later, but finished third in two other events, leaving Mark Spitz’s 1972 Olympic record of seven swimming golds intact.
