Michael Phelps

When Michael Phelps began his Olympic swimming career, he said he had a mission to change the landscape of the sport. Twelve years later, he's done that. And then some. Michael Phelps is the greatest Olympian of all time. He has 22 medals and 18 of them are gold. He has more gold medals all time than the entire country of India. In his first Olympics at Sydney 2000, not one medal was placed around his neck. However, the potential was there. He was their youngest swimmer.

At Athens 2004, Phelps racked up six golds in a row, but then got bronze twice in his last two events.

At Beijing 2008, he had his sights set on going eight for eight. And yes he did that. Eight for eight in '08. Not without some nails being bitten, though. In the second event, the USA trailed France in the relay going into the last 100 meters. However, Jason Lezak kept Phelps' hopes alive and stormed to get gold. In Phelps' seventh event, he trailed Milorad Cavic going into the last 3 meters. However, with one giant swoop of his arms, he touched the wall and beat Cavic, who to this day claims that Phelps got silver. Even Phelps' mother, Debbie, thought he got second, but he beat them by one one hundredth of a second. Phelps would close it out for his eighth gold and complete the greatest feat in sports history.

At London 2012, Phelps came in fourth in his first event. Was his reign over? Not yet, oh no, not yet. He got silver in the team relay to get one medal away from tying the all-time Olympic medal record. He tied it with a silver behind Chad le Clos and then broke Latynina's 48 year old record with a gold in a relay and became the greatest Olympian ever with the most medals won. And he still wasn't done! Phelps beat out his long time rival, Ryan Lochte (it would be the two's last face-off), to get another gold and win the event, 200 meter individual medley, for the third consecutive Olympics. Then, he did another threepeat in the 100 meter butterfly. That would be his last ever individual race. He would end his individual swimming career with another gold. He ended it as it had to end. Against Milorad Cavic. This time, it was clear he beat Cavic, but it had to end that way. In his last race ever, he got yet another gold to put it at 22 and 18 for his career. He had half as many golds as he did in 2008, but he was still the most decorated swimmer in the Olympics, three years in a row.

Its hard to put into words what Michael Phelps has meant for my aspirations. I've watched and admired him for a long while and now he ends his career with one last gold. He ended it as it had to end. Against that nail biting Cavic. 21 medals, 17 gold. Its fitting, but sad. The greatest Olympian ever is retiring. You were thrilling to watch. I couldn't be happier. Farewell, Michael Phelps.