Gold medal winner Michael Phelps, left, is congratulated by teammate and silver medal winner Ryan Lochte in the 200m individual medley in the 2004 Athens Olympics. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Michael Phelps comes up for air en route to winning the gold medal and breaking the world record in the 400m individual medley at the 2004 Athens Olympics. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Michael Phelps celebrates his victory in the 100-meter butterfly final, winning his fifth gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Michael Phelps, right, celebrates with Erik Vendt after winning the gold medal and breaking the world record in the 400m individual medley in the 2004 Athens Olympics. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Michael Phelps powers through the butterfly stroke of the 400m individual medley event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Phelps finished the race with a world record time of 4:03.84. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Michael Phelps couldn’t contain his excitement after winning the 100m butterfly by a split second over Serbian swimmer Milorad Cavic at Beijing’s National Aquatics Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Garrett Weber-Gale, left, and Michael Phelps celebrate with Jason Lezak, below, after winning the gold medal in the 4x100 freestyle relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Michael Phelps powers his way to win the 200m butterfly at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Michael Phelps steps to the medal podium after winning the 100m butterfly at Beijing’s National Aquatics Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
