Michael Phelps Biography (1985-)

Athlete. Born Michael Fred Phelps on June 30, 1985, in Baltimore, Maryland, to Fred and Debbie Phelps. The youngest of three children, Michael and his sisters grew up in the neighborhood of Rodgers Forge. Fred, an all-around athlete, was a state trooper. Debbie was a middle-school principal. When Michael’s parents divorced in 1994, the kids went to…

Shaquille O’Neal Biography (1972-)

Athlete, actor, musician. Born Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal on March 6, 1972 in Newark, New Jersey. O’Neal attended Cole High School in San Antonio, Texas and Louisiana State University.

Standing 7 feet and 315 pounds, this larger-than-life center is arguably the most dominant player in the NBA. During his years at Louisiana State, O’Neal was named the 1991 College Player of…

Roger Federer Biography (1981-)

Athlete. Born on August 8, 1981, in Basel, Switzerland. His parents, Robert Federer and Lynette Du Rand, met while on a business trip for a pharmaceutical company where they both worked.

Federer took an interest in sports at an early age, playing tennis and soccer at the age of 8. The young athlete excelled at athletics, and by…

Mike Tyson Biography (1966-)

Athlete. Born Michael Gerard Tyson on June 30, 1966, in Brooklyn, New York, to parents Jimmy Kirkpatrick and Lorna Tyson. When Michael was two years old his father abandoned the family, leaving Lorna to care for Michael and his two siblings, Rodney and Denise. Struggling financially, the Tyson family moved to Brownsville, Brooklyn, a neighborhood known for its high…

Babe Ruth Biography (1895-1948)

Athlete, baseball player. Born on February 6, 1895 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Babe Ruth was born in a poor waterfront neighbourhood and at age eight was sent by his saloon-keeper father to St Mary’s Industrial School for Boys, where a priest encouraged his interest in baseball.

As a teenager, his baseball exploits caught the attention of the minor league Baltimore…

Pele Biography (1940- )

Athlete, professional soccer player. Born Edson Arantes de Nascimento on October 23, 1940, in Tres Coracoes, Brazil. Although he was poor, Pelé grew up to be an international sports superstar. Throughout his childhood, he played soccer whenever and wherever he could, sometimes using a stuffed sock for a ball. He joined his first soccer team at the age of…