Michael Phelps 'could be tempted back to swimming by his son', new interview reveals
Michael Phelps, the most successful Olympian in history, could be tempted out of retirement once more by the prospect of swimming for his son Boomer, according to those closest to him.
American swimmer Phelps, who won 23 gold medals at four Olympics from 2004-2016, called it quits for the second time after the Rio Games at just 31 years of age having claimed five golds and a silver.
However as part of a cover feature for American magazine Sports Illustrated in which Phelps poses with all of his 28 medals his wife Nicole revealed that the prospect of proving himself to his son, who was born in May this year, might tempt him back for Tokyo 2020.
“I see that being the only thing that could bring him back—to swim for [his son] Boomer,” Nicole told Sports Illustrated.
It was an assessment that was echoed by NBA star Chris Paul, who cheered Phelps on in the pool at Rio in the summer even though he was not part of the US basketball team.
“He’s going to get that edge again. He’s too competitive.”
Phelps said of his conversations with the LA Clippers star: “I played golf with Chris Paul in September. He didn’t go to Rio, and he told me, ‘Wait until your son is old enough and he says, ‘Daddy, why aren’t you out there?’”
However the 31-year-old, who was handed a lifetime achievement award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony on Sunday, made clear that he did not see himself diving back into competition: “I could probably go four more years…
“But could I put in the true, honest hard work? Probably. But I have so many other things going… And there’s no reason. I’m tapping out. I’m closing. I’m done.”
He added: “The hardest thing is going to be not having the chance to represent my country. Not having the chance to stand on the medal platform and hear the national anthem… I’m at peace with how things ended. I’d rather have a healthy body in 20 years than kill myself more now. To me, it’s a no-brainer.”
Phelps first retired from swimming after London 2012 having fallen out of love with the sport, returning two years later in a bid to add to his medal haul. He announced his second exit from swimming before Rio.
The new issue of SI hits newsstands Thursday, December 22.
