A look back at sports
Sports pictures of the year
From a nail-biting pass at Superbowl XLIII to a bloody WBO World Welterwight fight, here's a look at the best sports photos of 2009. Slideshow
FACTBOX: Gold medalist Michael Phelps
(Reuters) - Factbox on swimmer Michael Phelps (U.S.) who won his third gold medal of the 2008 Summer Olympics in the 200m freestyle on Tuesday.
Age: 23 (date of birth: June 30, 1985)
Place of birth: Baltimore, United States
2008 Olympic results:
Three gold medals (400m individual medley, 4x100m freestyle, 200m freestyle)
Career achievements:
Seven gold medals at 2007 World Championships (200m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 200m butterfly, 200m individual medley, 400m individual medley, 4x100 freestyle relay and 4x200 freestyle relay)
Five gold medals at 2005 World Championships (200m freestyle, 200m individual medley, 4x100 freestyle relay, 4x200 freestyle relay, 4x100 medley relay)
Four gold medals at 2003 World Championships (200m butterfly, 200m individual medley, 400m individual medley, 4x100 medley relay)
One gold medal at 2001 World Championships (200m butterfly)
Previous Olympic results:
Six gold medals at 2004 Olympics (100m butterfly, 200m butterfly, 200m individual medley, 400m individual medley, 4x200 freestyle relay, 4x100 medley relay)
Two bronze medals at 2004 Olympics (200m freestyle, 4x100 freestyle relay)
Phelps is chasing fellow American Mark Spitz's 1972 record of seven wins at a single Games after coming close to matching his mark at Athens four years ago when he collected six golds. He has entered eight events.
He has an unusual physique with a long torso and comparatively short legs, providing minimal resistance in the water.
His sister Whitney was a member of the U.S. World Championship team in 2005.
(Compiled by Nigel Hunt, Editing by Padraic Halpin)
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