Born in Baltimore in the US state of Maryland, Phelps suffered Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder as a teenager and trained at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club under coach Bob Bowman.

• 出生在美国马里兰州的菲尔普斯，小时候患有注意力不足过动症，所以被送到巴尔的摩北部水上俱乐部，在勃波.；鲍曼手下接受训练。