Michael Phelps (1985- ) Swimmer. Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time, with a total of 28 medals. He also holds the all-time records for Olympic gold medals (23), Olympic gold medals in individual events (13), and Olympic medals in individual events (16). In winning eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games, he broke fellow American swimmer Mark Spitz's 1972 record of seven first-place finishes at any single Olympic Games. 20” x 16” color photograph signed, “Michael Phelps 18 Gold Medals”. An authenticator has found it important to deface the photograph with his sticker at the lower right.