Yes he had competed in other Olympics before Beijing so ya he was famous before that. He's been around for a while now.
He's been swimming since he was three but he has been non stop training for the Olympics since 2000. That was four years before the Olympics in Athens. So technically Michael Phelps has been training eight straight years for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
Michael Phelps secretly married Nicole Johnson on June 13, 2016 before the Olympics in Rio. They had a son together.
Michael Phelps had ADHD ( Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ) as a child and he struggled but worked hard for where he is now.
as far as the world knows Michael phelps has never tested positive. during the Olympics he tests everyday, before he gets into the pool for practice.
Michael Phelps from the USA has won 8 gold medals for swimming in this years Olympics in Beijing. Before that the record was 7, also held by a swimmer - Mark Spitz.
Even before the 2012 Olympics Michael Phelps with 14 had won the most. After the 2012 Olympics his total is 18 and 22 Medals total Raymond Ewry of the United States is credited with having won the most gold medals in the Olympics at 10. His events were the standing long jump, standing high jump, and standing triple jump at the Olympics in the early 1900s. Second most gold medals won is 9 and was done by swimmer Mark Spitz and track and field athlete Carl Lewis.
Mark Spitz (USA) won 7 gold medals for swimming at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Yes in Beijing
2004 in Athens, Greece.
He listens to music before a race.
USA
Michael H. Phelps