Dramatic photos show when Michael Phelps won all 27 of his record-breaking medals

There's just no contest: Michael Phelps is the greatest Olympian of all time. He's racked up 26 medals (22 of them gold) and shattered world records. He's gone into retirement and come back out. And now, at age 31, he's still dominating the competition in the pool. 

In fact, last night, Phelps broke the world record for most individual gold medals won by a single Olympian — a record held for 2,160 years by ancient Greek runner Leonidas of Rhodes.

Here's a look at Phelps' awe-inspiring career. 

Phelps won his first gold medal — and broke a world record — in the 400-meter individual medley at 2004 Athens games. He was just 19 years old.

Getty Images/Al Bello

Source: International Olympic Committee; Omega Timing

In the 4x100-meter freestyle relay, Team USA took bronze. Phelps clearly wasn't thrilled.

Reuters

Source: International Olympic Committee

He settled for bronze again in the 200-meter freestyle.

Reuters

Source: International Olympic Committee

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