Michael Phelps

Book excerpt: Eight medals, including six gold and two bronze. Michael Phelps used the Olympic Games in Athens as his breakout event. Already known in the swimming world for the summer of 2003 when he set seven world records in 41 days, Michael's record-tying medal haul made him a mainstream name. He's well on his way to his ambitious goal of "changing the sport of swimming," but despite Michael's pre-eminence in the pool, his story is not a swimming diary but a take of adversities overcome and redemption through persistence.