X
TAP top app download banner
theAsianparent Malaysia Logo
theAsianparent Malaysia Logo
EnglishMalay
Product Guide
Sign in
  • Becoming a Parent
    • Project Sidekicks
    • Pregnancy
    • Losing A Baby
    • Conceiving a Baby
    • Adoption
    • Labour & Delivery
  • Ages & Stages
    • Baby
    • Child
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Parenting
    • Parenting Tips
    • Marriage, Relationship & Sex
    • Viral News
  • Health
    • Illness
    • Allergy & Syndrome
    • Vaccinations
    • Give Health A Shot
  • Breastfeeding & Nutrition
    • Breastfeeding
    • Healthy Meal Tips
    • Formula
  • Education
    • Preschool
    • Primary School
    • Middle School
    • Special Education
  • Money Parenting
    • Tips for Parents
    • Tips for Toddlers
    • Tips for Older Kids
    • The 5 Personas
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Contests & Promotions
    • Holiday
    • Spirituality
    • Home
  • TAP Recommends
  • Press Room
  • Products
  • Advertise With Us

Michael Phelps is giving up swimming to focus on being a father

3 min read
Michael Phelps is giving up swimming to focus on being a father

The most decorated Olympian of all time is retiring to focus on his son

American swimmer Michael Phelps has announced that he’s retiring—and he’s serious this time. The most decorated Olympian of all time (with 28[!!!] medals) had made the same claim four years ago, but the Rio Olympics could really be the end of his professional swimming career.

The Rio Olympics were special for Phelps, because, as he said himself, “I got to do it with my son here,” referring to his three-month-old son Boomer. “We’ll be able to share these memories with him when he grows up.”

It looks like fatherhood has really transformed the 31-year-old athlete.

  I loved going in the pool today with @nicole.m.johnson (mommy) and @m_phelps00 (daddy) today! Can’t wait til I get to learn to swim from daddy and @coach_bowman !

A photo posted by boomer phelps (@boomerrphelps) on Jul 6, 2016 at 11:44am PDT

After winning gold in the 4x100m medley relay, Phelps forwent the victory parties at the athletes’ village to spend the night with his fiancée, former model and Miss California Nicole Johnson, and their son.

“Being apart from him for the last three weeks, four weeks from when I saw him last, he’s grown so much,” Phelps said. “I changed a diaper last night. He was just sitting there looking at me, smiling the whole time. It brought a tear to my eye, just because he hasn’t seen me in a while and it was so cool to see him smiling back at me and laughing and giggling.”

Boomer was asleep when Phelps got to the hotel after his final race.

“I picked him up after I was done and just held him,” Phelps said. “That’s something I’m really, really looking forward to, just watching him grow up.”

Why does Phelps want to dedicate himself to being a full-time dad? Click to the next page to find out.

Phelps said he’s looking forward to doing everything he can to be a great dad.

“That’s number one for me,” Phelps said. “I want to be there every step of the way. I don’t want to miss a thing. I’ve had so many people say to me, ‘You blink an eye, it’s over.’ They grow up so fast. Next thing you know, they’re going off to college. I don’t want to miss anything.”

  I loved going in the pool today with @nicole.m.johnson (mommy) and @m_phelps00 (daddy) today! Can’t wait til I get to learn to swim from daddy and @coach_bowman !

A photo posted by boomer phelps (@boomerrphelps) on Jul 6, 2016 at 11:44am PDT

“I wanted to come back and finish my career how I wanted and this was the cherry on top of the cake,” Phelps said on Today.

Though he plans on continuing to be involved with the sport, his days as a professional athlete are over.

‘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,” he continued.

When he was a child, Phelps’ parents divorced, and the swimmer had a strained relationship with his dad for years. Only after a second DUI arrest and therapy did Phelps patch things up with his father.

 

Partner Stories
Menerokai Persekitaran: Memperkenalkan Kanak-Kanak Autistik Kepada Pelbagai Persekitaran Luar
Menerokai Persekitaran: Memperkenalkan Kanak-Kanak Autistik Kepada Pelbagai Persekitaran Luar
Tawaran Sah Hanya Pada 11.11 Sahaja! Beli Friso Gold & Bawa Pulang Hadiah Edisi Terhad & Peluang Untuk Memenangi Baucar Pelancongan ke Belanda!
Tawaran Sah Hanya Pada 11.11 Sahaja! Beli Friso Gold & Bawa Pulang Hadiah Edisi Terhad & Peluang Untuk Memenangi Baucar Pelancongan ke Belanda!
Gaya Fesyen Trendy & Terkini, KWC Fashion Wholesale Masa Depan Fast Fashion di Malaysia
Gaya Fesyen Trendy & Terkini, KWC Fashion Wholesale Masa Depan Fast Fashion di Malaysia
Mulakan Simpanan Pendidikan & Masa Depan Anak Seawal Mungkin, Pilihlah Cara Terbaik Untuk Tabungan Konsisten
Mulakan Simpanan Pendidikan & Masa Depan Anak Seawal Mungkin, Pilihlah Cara Terbaik Untuk Tabungan Konsisten

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Cristina Morales

  • Home
  • /
  • Gaya Hidup
  • /
  • Michael Phelps is giving up swimming to focus on being a father
Share:
  • Senarai Barang MyKasih Yang Boleh Anda Tebus Guna Mykad Di Kedai Runcit/ Pasaraya Seluruh Malaysia

    Senarai Barang MyKasih Yang Boleh Anda Tebus Guna Mykad Di Kedai Runcit/ Pasaraya Seluruh Malaysia

  • Keputihan Banyak Tanda Hamil? Ini Cara Yang Tepat Untuk Tahu Anda Hamil Atau Tidak

    Keputihan Banyak Tanda Hamil? Ini Cara Yang Tepat Untuk Tahu Anda Hamil Atau Tidak

  • Keputihan Kuning & Miss V Berbau, Apakah Penyebab Dan Cara Mengatasinya?

    Keputihan Kuning & Miss V Berbau, Apakah Penyebab Dan Cara Mengatasinya?

  • Senarai Barang MyKasih Yang Boleh Anda Tebus Guna Mykad Di Kedai Runcit/ Pasaraya Seluruh Malaysia

    Senarai Barang MyKasih Yang Boleh Anda Tebus Guna Mykad Di Kedai Runcit/ Pasaraya Seluruh Malaysia

  • Keputihan Banyak Tanda Hamil? Ini Cara Yang Tepat Untuk Tahu Anda Hamil Atau Tidak

    Keputihan Banyak Tanda Hamil? Ini Cara Yang Tepat Untuk Tahu Anda Hamil Atau Tidak

  • Keputihan Kuning & Miss V Berbau, Apakah Penyebab Dan Cara Mengatasinya?

    Keputihan Kuning & Miss V Berbau, Apakah Penyebab Dan Cara Mengatasinya?

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Conceiving a Baby
  • Baby
  • Health
  • Education
  • Lifestyle
  • TAP Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2025. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it