Michael Phelps celebrates with his 23rd career Olympic gold medal on Saturday night in Rio.
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Phelps, who is retiring after the Olympics, told host Matt Lauer that America’s swimming program is in great shape with Ledecky and her young counterparts leading the charge. And now that he’s found a different goal in the sport of swimming, I think he’s gonna come back, because he wants that challenge.
United States’ Michael Phelps cries during the medal ceremony after winning the gold medal in the men’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay during the swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 8, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Baby Boomer Phelps, who has already had his first swimming lessons and who has been cheering for his dad at the Olympics (to the extent a months-old-baby-can), weighs exactly what you’d think an infant would; probably less than 20 lbs. “Being able to cap it off with these Games is just the flawless way to finish”, said the 31-year-old.
With a personal medal tally that exceeds the total medal count of India and several other countries in the modern Olympics ever since they began in 1896, Phelps is easily the greatest Olympian that ever lived. I’m relaxed. I’m comfortable, and I know my surroundings. “I wanted to challenge myself and see how much more I could do. I have a bunch of people that came down to watch these games and I’d like to spend some time with them”.
“The biggest thing between now and London was that I was more emotional during these games and that showed on camera”, Phelps said. Phelps is more of a Michael Jordan, a relentless competitor whose sustained excellence inspires awe more than anything else.
8 I’m the same kind of guy before all this happened.
“You’re going to get the same response here [as in 2012] – done, done, done”.
‘This is the part of my life where I get to start a whole new chapter, which is getting to build a family with Nicole, ‘ explained Phelps.
Most of the USA swim team was in the stands to watch Phelps’ finale, including the biggest female star at the pool, Katie Ledecky. Phelps says he eats less now, though he still acknowledges a breakfast that includes a three-egg omelet, three pieces of French toast and coffee. Phelps wants all his teammates to know he is only ever a phone call away.
Phelps has competed in five Olympic Games but did not medal back in 2000 while swimming in Sydney.
But it also sparked a turnaround. “I think that’s why it was so special for both of us”.
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If that was the end, and Phelps insists it is, the numbers are simply astonishing. “It might be once in 10 generations that someone like Michael Phelps comes along”.
