- Became the first American to win eight medals in one Olympiad with six gold and two bronze in 2004
- Joined Olympic icon Mark Spitz in 2004 as the only swimmers to win four individual events in one Games (100m, 200m fly; 200m, 400m IM)
- In 2004, became the first swimmer in history to qualify for the Olympic Games in six individual events
- Became the first swimmer to set five world records at one meet at the 2003 World Championships; winning four golds and two silvers.
- In 2000, became the youngest American male swimmer (15) to compete in Olympic Games since 1932; finished fifth in the 200m butterfly.
- First man in history to win titles in three different strokes at one national championship in 2003; also the first man to win five titles in one Nationals ... twice
- Current world-record holder in the 200m fly, 200m IM, and 400m IM; at the 2001 Spring Nationals, became the youngest man to break a world record (15 years, nine months)
- Won the prestigious 2003 Sullivan Award as the top U.S. amateur athlete.
- Graduated from Towson (Md.) High School in May, 2003; will attend the University of Michigan in the fall of 2004
- Started swimming at age seven, following his two older sisters, including Whitney, a member of the 1994 World Championship team
- His mother, Debbie, is a schoolteacher, and his father, Fred, is a Maryland state trooper.
- He enjoys lacrosse, soccer, and baseball (played those sports until age 12)
- His coach, Bob Bowman, was honored as the 2001 USA Swimming Coach of the Year
- Favorite foods are lasagna, pretzels, cheeseburger subs, and waffle cones filled with French vanilla ice cream and Butterfinger bits
- Listens to rap music before races - "I ALWAYS listen to DMX. The song is called "Party up" - he listened to it before making the Olympic Team and breaking his first world record
- Enjoys MTV Cribs, Austin Powers and XBox video games
"Michael is the closest to Mark Spitz that we have in this country, as far as across the rainbow of distances," said Jon Urbanchek, four-time U.S. Olympic team coach.
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