‘Flying Fish’ Michael Phelps Is Back For His “Last” Olympic Games
Phelps announced his retirement after the 2012 Olympics but changed his mind just 18 months later. Now he’s back.
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Michael Phelps is back for a sequel to his Olympic farewell. This time, he insists, it really is goodbye.
(Probably) The Last Olympic for Phelps
After retiring and then un-retiring, Phelps will be in Rio as the first US male swimmer to compete in five Olympics. He is already the most decorated athlete in the history of the games, with 18 golds and 22 medals overall, and at age 31 remains the biggest star in a sport that will also feature teen sensation Katie Ledecky and an increasingly diverse pool of potential champions from around the world.
Look for Phelps to add significantly to his medal total. He qualified for his three best individual events and will likely be part of all three men’s relays on the powerful US team.
Just don’t expect another comeback.
Phelps initially retired after the London Games, only to backtrack on that decision about 18 months later.
A Rough Ride Since 2012 Olympics
Looking back to four years ago, Phelps said he didn’t really want to be at the Olympics and wasn’t in top condition, even though he was still good enough to capture four golds and two silvers. He came back with a rekindled passion for swimming, only to run into another major challenge when he was arrested for the second time on drunken driving charges.
That led Phelps to completely overhaul his personal life. He went into therapy, gave up alcohol, got engaged, made peace with his estranged father and, in the biggest change of all, became a father for the first time when son Boomer was born in May 2016.
No matter what happens in Rio, this is how he really wants to go out.