Michael Phelps: Breaking Down Team USA Legend's Chances in Every Event

Michael Phelps starts another quest to win multiple golds in London at the Olympics. This year he is competing in seven events, one fewer than his event total at Beijing. He dropped the 200-meter freestyle from what was to be the same slate as Beijing.

Phelps will look to earn gold in every event he competes in again. However, he needs just three more medals to break gymnast Larisa Latynina's record of 18 medals total.

Phelps will be competing in the following events:

100-meter butterfly

200-meter butterfly

200-meter individual medley

400-meter individual medley

4×100-meter freestyle relay

4×200-meter freestyle relay

4×100-meter medley relay

100-Meter Butterfly

Yet another event the fantastic Phelps holds a world record in. The butterfly is another one of his strongest, and he proves it by dominating every single time he swims in the event. Whether it's 100 meters or 200 meters, expect Phelps to challenge his own world records and personal bests in London.

Projection: Gold Medal

200-Meter Butterfly

Phelps is the current long-course world record holder in this event with a time of 1:51.51. He is coming in after obliterating the competition in the trials, and should be able to dominate this event once again in London. The 200-meter butterfly has never been an issue for Phelps and is arguably his strongest event and stroke.

Projection: Gold Medal

200-Meter Individual Medley

Phelps doesn't hold the world record in this event, and he isn't expected to win it. Don't fret, Phelps fans. He should still end up with a silver medal here, as he is the second-best in the world in this event. His teammate, Ryan Lochte, should be the one that wins gold, but don't expect Phelps to be too far behind him.

Projection: Silver Medal, Ryan Lochte wins the gold.

400-Meter Individual Medley

Feeling like a broken record, but Phelps is a world record holder in this event as well. He is only going to improve his medal standing with this event.

Lochte has the better short speed, but Phelps has better endurance. Medaling in this event, along with the first three, would make Phelps the first Olympian to ever collect 20 medals of any color. Lochte beat Phelps at the trials, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him duplicate that result here.

Projection: Silver Medal, Ryan Lochte wins the gold.

4×100-Meter Freestyle Relay

These events are where Phelps isn't in complete control, which makes earning a gold medal more unpredictable. However, the U.S. has always surrounded him with great talent for team events, and this Olympics is no different.

Phelps won't run the anchor on this one, but he should start out and give the Americans a good lead at the beginning on their way to another gold.

Projection: Gold Medal

4×200-Meter Freestyle Relay

On this team Phelps and Lochte combine with relay star Ricky Berens and Olympic rookie Matt McLean. McLean is an upgrade over David Walters, and the U.S. should take advantage of this to win yet another gold in the 4x200 relay.

Projection: Gold Medal

4×100-Meter Medley Relay

The U.S. has several tremendously talented swimmers that can team with Lochte and Phelps in this event. Tyler Clary—who called out Phelps for his work ethic—makes a strong case to be included as he can compete in the backstroke or butterfly. This team should be able to win again and give Phelps yet another gold.

Projection: Gold Medal

Final Tally

Gold Medals: 5

Silver Medals: 2

By accumulating five golds and two silvers, Phelps would add to his legacy as the best Olympic swimmer of all time. With his record amount of medals, he would also be the most decorated Olympian of all time.

Scott Carasik is a Featured Columnist and Trends and Traffic Writer for Bleacher Report. As a Featured Columnist, he covers the Atlanta Falcons, NFL and NFL Draft. He is also the Falcons analyst at Drafttek and also runs the NFL Draft Website ScarDraft.com and the host of Kvetching Draftniks Radio.

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