What has Michael Phelps been up to since his retirement? The record-smashing former Olympian swimmer made millions from his career and sponsorships, has 4 kids, and is a mental health advocate
All roads lead to Paris, France for the 2024 Olympic Games. Here, the world’s greatest athletes will compete on a global stage, hoping that years of hard work and preparation will earn them the coveted podium finish.
Of course, no one can speak about the Games without mentioning Michael Phelps – the most decorated Olympian of all time. His impressive career comeback at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 put his name in the history books for years to come.
But what is life like out the pool for Phelps since his retirement in the same year? We take a look at his impressive career and what he has been up to.
Why Michael Phelps is a sports icon
That was the first of many records he would smash – to date, he remains the most decorated Olympian of all time. Phelps has an incredible 28 Olympic medals, 23 of those being gold. With his physique, speed, power in the pool and a record five Olympics, the “Baltimore Bullet” has cemented his status as one of the greatest athletes of all time.
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He’s a mental health advocate
Through the Michael Phelps Foundation, he has also focused on youth mental health, with wellness programmes being offered to youngsters from around the world.
Who are Michael Phelps’ wife and kids?
Phelps became a dad for a fourth time in January this year when his wife Nicole Johnson give birth to their son Nico. They have three other boys: Boomer, Becket and Maverick.
According to ABC News, Phelps met Johnson at the 2007 Espy Awards where she was working as an intern. In 2015, they confirmed their engagement and got married in a secret ceremony in Arizona.
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He’s enjoying living a normal life
Post retirement, after the Rio Games in 2016, Phelps told the Today show that he would not return to the pool competitively. In an interview with USA Today, he added that he was “done” with swimming and was moving on to the next chapter of his life. He explained that he had other things to offer the world and that “I’m not just a swimmer, that is not my only [identity] any more.”
In an article in People magazine, Phelps said that after life as a professional swimmer, he has tried to instil family traditions like eating dinner at 5pm every day. “As a kid, I always wanted to have dinner as a family, but with my parents separated that didn’t happen,” he revealed. He said the routine has helped him manage his depression, too.
Sports career and sponsorship millions
He is also an equity investor in mental health start-up TalkSpace. Last year, he launched a mental health awareness month campaign called Celebrate Every Step with the organisation.
- Once the youngest male swimmer to be included in the US Olympic team in 68 years, Phelps holds 23 gold medals and raked in millions through sponsorships with Omega, Under Armour and Beats by Dre
- He married his wife Nicole Johnson in 2015 and became a dad for the fourth time in January, welcoming son Nico – as the 2024 Paris Olympics draw closer, here’s what Phelps has been up to