on this date 20 years ago Michael Phelps won his first Olympic gold medal setting a world record in the 400 meter I am it was one of 28 medals including 23 Golds Phelps captured in his Olympic career those 28 medals are 10 more than any other Olympian those 23 Golds or 14 more than any other Olympian he is the only athlete to win four goals at an Olympics more than once and he did it four times at the time of his 2016 retirement Phelps had won more Olympic gold medals than all all but four countries at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing Phelps won eight goals and set World Records in seven of them Phelps signature event was the 200 meter IM winning gold in ‘ 04 08 2012 and 2016 that made him the first swimmer to win four consecutive goals in the same individual Olympic event