Michael Phelps, winner of 16 Olympic gold medals, is apparently ready and willing to stay out of the water. According to the acclaimed swimmer, he won’t return to compete after the games in London this summer. Although he claims he’ll go to the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, it will be as a simple spectator, not as a competitor.
Phelps stuck to his guns during an interview with “60 Minutes” last Sunday. Despite some light-hearted ribbing from his mother — she really wants to pay a visit to Brazil, by the way — Phelps said that once the London games have wrapped, his days as an Olympic competitor are over and out.
“We’ll go watch,” he said regarding the Brazil games. “Once I retire, I’m retiring. I’m done.”
Regarding the upcoming competition, Phelps and his coach seem to think he’s ready to bring home more medals. “I kind of feel like my old self again,” Phelps explained in the interview. “I’m swimming times like I used to. I’m swimming races like I used to. So everything is coming back to me, what it was, I guess, before ’08.”
2012 Summer Olympics kick off in London on July 27th. News about Phelps’ retirement has found its way onto Twitter. You can sample some of the reactions below.
Michael phelps is going to retire at 27 years old with a net worth of $40 million #sick
Just watched 60 min on Michael Phelps.. Has trained for 16 years and will retire at 27. I’d take that
Michael Phelps said he will retire at 27. Who can say they have that advantage
michael phelps retiring… wish I could retire at this age
How do I feel about losing the sale? It’s like if Michael Phelps, came out of retirement, jumped in the pool, bellyflopped and drowned.