A very youthful Michael Phelps, second from left, and other Olympic team members get a send-off at the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center in Pasadena after training for the 2000 Sydney Games. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Michael Phelps hugs anchor Klete Keller as Ryan Lochte, left, and Peter Vanderkaay celebrate a U.S. victory over Ian Thorpe and Australia in the 800-meter freestyle relay at the Athens Games in 2004. Phelps returned from those Olympics with six gold medals and two bronze. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
American Michael Phelps acknowledges the crowd after winning the 200-meter butterfly, his sixth medal of the 2004 Athens Games. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Michael Phelps celebrates his victory in the 100-meter butterfly at the Athens Games. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Michael Phelps swims in the men’s 100-meter butterfly preliminaries at the U.S. Olympic trials in Omaha in July. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
