Michael Phelps: The Untold Story of a Champion »

Former journalist Bob Schaller has written numerous articles for USA Swimming and its magazine, Splash. He is the author of several books, including NEVER STOP PUSHING: My Life from a Wyoming Farm to the Olympic Medals Stand, about Olympic gold medalist wrestler Rulon Gardner and WHAT THOUGH THE ODDS: Haley Scott’s Journey of Faith and Triumph. Visit his website at www.bobschaller.com.

Michael Phelps is an American sports hero, perhaps the greatest Olympic athlete the world has ever known. His unprecedented eight gold medals in the 2008 Summer Olympics have made him a superstar. But his journey to Olympic immortality is every bit as compelling as his achievements in the pool. From learning to cope with ADHD to the story of how Phelps became the greatest swimmer ever, Phelps' tale is told in full detail here for the first time.

The author, Bob Schaller, has known Phelps and his coach for more than eight years, and has extensively interviewed him, along with his mother, sisters, coach, and teammates. Filled with revelations, career statistics, photographs, and insightful analysis of how Phelps achieved the seemingly impossible, this is a must-read for anyone who wants to learn the complete story behind the legend.

Foreword Jason Lezak IX

Preface: Let the Games Begin: China, 2008 XIII

Acknowledgments XVII

Introduction Rowdy Gaines XIX

Part I

Chapter 1 Raised by a Single Mom and Two Amazing Sisters 3

Chapter 2 The Family That Swims Together: The Push to 2000 for the Phelps Siblings 13

Chapter 3 The Architect Behind the Plan: Coach Bob Bowman 21

Chapter 4 Quest for History, Take 1: Athens, 2004 35

Chapter 5 Becoming a Young Man: Life at the University of Michigan 45

Chapter 6 The "Thorpedo" on Swimming's Radar 69

Chapter 7 Omaha, Nebraska: No Calm Before the Storm 77

Chapter 8 Mark Spitz: Michael, Watch Out in the 100 Butterfly 87

Chapter 9 What Could Go Wrong? 101

Chapter 10 China Takes World's Center Stage 107

Part II

Chapter 11 Beijing 2008: Saturday, August 9 117

Chapter 12 Sunday, August 10: Finals, 400 IM 129

Chapter 13 Monday, August 11: Finals, 4 x 100 Relay 133

Chapter 14 Tuesday, August 12: Finals, 200 Freestyle 149

Chapter 15 Wednesday, August 13: Finals, 200 Butterfly and 800 Free Relay (4 x 200) 153

Chapter 16 Thursday, August 14: No Finals, But Little Time to Rest 167

Chapter 17 Friday, August 15: Finals, 200 Individual Medley 173

Chapter 18 Saturday, August 16: Finals, 100 Butterfly 183

Chapter 19 Sunday, August 17: Finals, 4 x 100 Medley Relay 193

Chapter 20 U.S. Women Make Their Own History 199

Chapter 21 Live, from China: A Family Affair 211

Chapter 22 From the Great Wall, to the Great Beyond 221

Appendix A Glossary of Terms 231

Appendix B Strokes 235

Appendix C Major Events on the U.S. Swim Calendar 237

Appendix D Author Interview 239

Appendix EPhelps' Career Statistics 245

Appendix F June 30: A Day that Brought the World Michael Phelps-and a Whole Lot More 249