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Despite Retiring in 2016, Michael Phelps Still Remains Unsurpassable for Most World Records Set for the Past Decade

Published 01/06/2023, 8:45 AM EST

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The name Michael Phelps is synonymous with swimming. He is considered one of the greatest Olympians ever. Starting his journey in 2001, in 15 years, Phelps won 28 Olympic medals, out of which 23 are gold. Recently, an Instagram post shared the statistics of the athletes who hold records in swimming. Evidently, the Flying Fish holds the records even after retirement.

 

In an Instagram post by Swimmingstats, The Baltimore Bullet has 29 world records under his name which makes him the one who has set the most world record in this century.

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Michael Phelps the G.O.A.T.  record holder

Starting in the year 2001, his career reached its pinnacle in 2004 when he won eight medals in Summer Olympics. Consequently, Phelps’s career skyrocketed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics where he achieved eight gold medals, breaking the record of Mark Spitz. With this remarkable feat, he entered into the elite category of all-time records for Olympic medals in individual events.

When asked about which among them is the best, the legend told The New York Times, “Without question, the last gold medal will stand out more than really any of them just because of the journey and having Booms there. That one for me is personally the most memorable, though it’s hard to leave out Beijing.”

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As swimmingstats posted on Instagram about the records, the second position led by former American swimmer Aaron Peirsol is 16 records behind him. In fact, in Phelps’s list of records, the 400m freestyle relay, 400m IM, 400m medley relay, and 800m Freestyle relay in world championships are worth mentioning. Even today, after seven years of his retirement, The Baltimore Bullet is still unbeatable.

Who broke his records?

Though some of the 29 LCM records are still unreachable, a few emerging talents managed to forge some of Phelps’s world records in their name. The 19-year-old Kristof Milak broke his 200m butterfly record by completing it in 1:50.73 in 2019. Knowing  Milak to break his records, it may have been a bit of a downer but Phelps definitely loved the way how he finished his last 100 m to set a new one.

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via Getty

He said to The New York Times, ” As frustrated as I am to see that record go down, I couldn’t be happier to see how he did it,” He further added, “That kid’s last 100 was incredible. He put together a great 200 fly from start to finish.”

Watch This Story –  Resurfaced video shows Michael Phelps Race of the century with Ian Thorpe, Pieter Van Den Hoogenband’s at 2004 Athens Olympics

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Although the Flying Fish retired in 2016, Phelps is an inspiration to many. In fact, There is always someone who can break his records. But his unparalleled golden feat will serve as a blueprint for success for a very long time. As for the sports community, the sport is greater than any individual.

 

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Written by:

Soumili Chatterjee

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Soumili Chatterjee is a US Sports author for EssentiallySports. She secured her bachelor’s and master's degree in English literature from the University of Calcutta. After being a technical and blog writer for nearly three years, it was her ardent love for sports that steered her career toward the sports industry.
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Edited by:

Jahnabi Choudhury