First published 2016
Michael Phelps holds 28 Olympic medals, including 23 gold, making him the most decorated Olympian in history. In this updated autobiography, he reveals the personal struggles behind his public triumphs. Phelps discusses his battle with attention deficit disorder and the trauma of his parents' divorce. He describes the pressure of sudden fame and the challenges of competing on the world stage. The swimmer takes readers through his evolution from setting his first world record as the youngest man ever in 2001 to becoming an Olympic powerhouse in 2008. He details surpassing Leonidas of Rhodes, the greatest athlete of ancient Greece, with 13 victories in 2016. Phelps shares insights into his rigorous training regimen and mental preparation techniques. He offers a behind-the-scenes look at international athletic competitions. The memoir chronicles his transformation from an awkward teenager into a record-breaking champion, providing an intimate portrait of dedication and perseverance.
Genres: biography, autobiography, sports, biography-memoir
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: overcoming-adversity, personal-transformation
Period: 2001, 2008, 2016
320 pages · Paperback · Sports Publishing
Content warnings: mental-illness