![[photo, swimming pool, Reisterstown, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/01glance/sports/images/1198-1-4257b
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Swimming in Maryland gained worldwide attention in August 2008, when Michael Phelps of Baltimore County won eight gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1985, Phelps began swimming at age 7. Except for four years at the University of Michigan, his swim training has been at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, where his fellow Olympian, Katie Hoff, has been training since 2003.
In addition to his eight gold medals, Michael Phelps holds the world records for the 100-meter butterfly, the 200-meter butterfly, the 200-meter freestyle, the 200-meter individual medley, and the 400-meter individual medley. He also was a member of American relay teams that obtained world records in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay and the 4x100-meter medley relay.
Swimming pool, Reisterstown, Maryland, September 2009. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
With its rivers, lakes, ocean beaches, and the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland also is the ideal place for recreational swimming. Sixteen State Parks have swimming areas. Information about beach water quality can be found at: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/md/nwis/current/?type=quality.
Held annually in June since 1982, the Great Chesapeake Bay Swim is 4.4 miles from Sandy Point State Park in Anne Arundel County to Kent Island on the Eastern Shore. Limited to 600 swimmers, the Swim is next scheduled for June 2012.
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