Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Michael Phelps: the recordman


In March 2007, Michael Phelps won seven gold medals at the 2007 World Swimming Championships in Melbourne, Australia.

Michael Phelps broke Ian Thorpe’s record of six gold medals at a single World Championship edition, set in 2001 in Fukuoka, Japan.

Michael Phelps’ 20 career World Championship medals make him the most decorated swimmer in the history of the World Championships, improving upon Grant Hackett’s previous record total of 18 medals.

His total of 23 world record improvements in Olympic events is only bettered by Mark Spitz, who posted 27 world record improvements.

His total of seven medals also equalled the record for most medals at a single World Championships, sharing this record with Michael Klim and Matt Biondi, according to Infostrada.

Now he goes for eight gold medals at the same Olympics Game and beat Mark Spitz record.


Most gold medals in a single World Championships edition

# Name Nation Edition Gender
7 Michael Phelps USA 2007 M
6 Ian Thorpe AUS 2001 M
5 Jim Montgomery USA 1973 M
5 Tracy Caulkins USA 1978 F
5 Michael Phelps USA 2005 M
5 Libby Lenton AUS 2007 F
4 Kornelia Ender GDR 1973 F
4 Kornelia Ender GDR 1975 F
4 Kristin Otto GDR 1986 F
4 Heike Friedrich GDR 1986 F
4 Le Jingyi CHN 1994 F
4 Michael Klim AUS 1998 M
4 Jenny Thompson USA 1998 F
4 Michael Phelps USA 2003 M

Most medals at World Swimming Championships – all time

# Name Nation G S B Gender Edition(s)
20 Michael Phelps USA 17 3 0 M 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007
18 Grant Hackett AUS 10 5 3 M 1998, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007
16 Natalie Coughlin USA 6 6 4 F 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007
15 Jenny Thompson USA 8 5 2 F 1991, 1994, 1998, 2003
13 Michael Gross FRG,GER 5 5 3 M 1982, 1986, 1991
13 Ian Thorpe AUS 11 1 1 M 1998, 2001, 2003
11 Matt Biondi USA 6 2 3 M 1986, 1991
11 Alexander Popov RUS 6 4 1 M 1994, 1998, 2003
11 Libby Lenton AUS 7 2 2 F 2003, 2005, 2007
11 Antje Buschschulte GER 3 5 3 F 1998, 2001, 2003, 2005
11 Leisel Jones AUS 7 2 2 F 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007

Breaking most swimming world records (Olympic events only)

# Name Nation Individual Relay
27 Mark Spitz USA 23 4
23 Michael Phelps USA 20 3
23 Kornelia Ender GDR 23 0
19 Dawn Fraser AUS 15 4
18 Ian Thorpe AUS 13 5
17 Ragnhild Hveger DEN 15 2
17 Donna de Varona USA 14 3
16 Roland Matthes GDR 16 0
15 Debbie Meyer USA 15 0
15 Don Schollander USA 12 3

Most medals in a single World Championships edition

# Name Nation Edition Gender Gold Silver Bronze Total
7 Michael Phelps USA 2007 M 7 0 0 7
7 Michael Klim AUS 1998 M 4 2 1 7
7 Matt Biondi USA 1986 M 3 1 3 7
6 Ian Thorpe AUS 2001 M 6 0 0 6
6 Tracy Caulkins USA 1978 F 5 1 0 6
6 Michael Phelps USA 2005 M 5 1 0 6
6 Kristin Otto GDR 1986 F 4 2 0 6
6 Michael Phelps USA 2003 M 4 2 0 6
6 Shirley Babashoff USA 1975 F 2 3 1 6
6 Mary T. Meagher USA 1986 F 1 3 2 6

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