Michael "The Baltimore Bullet" Phelps has said for months that the Rio Olympics was his final event and he made it official by completing the paperwork that would strike his name off the drug-testing pool. This will make him barred from any competition in the future.
Michael Phelps Retirement Final: "The Baltimore Bullet" Says "This Is It"
Phelps called on Peter Carlisle, his agent since becoming a pro at age 16 in 2001, told him the news. "I said to Peter, I was like, get the papers, can we just sign these things, so I don't have to do the daily updates and everything?" noted Phelps, citing an exhausting whereabouts system that all athletes need fill out so drug testers can find them for surprise checks. "It's good. I'm still in the pool recreationally. I'm still not coming back.", reported Nick Zaccardi of NBC Sports.
In an interview with Phelps' Olympic teammate Ryan Lochte, an American 12-time Olympic medalist who ranks second behind Phelps, says he just doesn't believe Phelps is through with competitive swimming. This is despite the fact he filed official retirement paperwork earlier this week. "I ain't buyin' it,' he told TMZ.
Most Decorated Olympian Of All Time Explains His "Secret Marriage"
Michael Phelps and Nicole Johnson had a secret "backyard wedding" in June 13 to make it hassle-free for Johnson and their baby, Boomer, to travel together with the same last name. They kept the marriage undisclosed until media published reports in October.
Back in 2012, Phelps also said he was retiring, only to unretire by re-entering the drug-testing pool on in 2013. He turned out to be eligible again to swim after serving the mandatory nine-months waiting period.
"Flying Fish" Phelps spoke to media Monday ahead of USA Swimming's Golden Goggle Awards in Times Square, where he received three Golden Goggle nominations. Michael Phelps finished his record-setting Olympic career with 28 medals, 23 of them gold.
