Michael Phelps has already come out of retirement once, so despite saying that his triumphant showing in the Rio de Janeiro Games allowed him to "close the door" on swimming, would it be any surprise to see him competing in the 2020 Games?
Probably not. But as of now, Phelps is official retired after filing paperwork that removes his name from the U.S. drug-testing program. That makes the 31-year-old ineligible for any high-level competition and typically serves as the official end to an athlete's career.
Phelps told Nick Zaccardi of NBC Sports on Monday that what sealed his decision to finally hang up his goggles was something to which even we mere mortals can relate: He was sick of all the paperwork. Athletes at his level must constantly file updates on their movements, so that drug-testers know where to find them at a moment's notice.
Calling that relentless system of alerting officials to his whereabouts "brutal," Phelps said that he told his agent, "Get the papers, can we just sign these things, so I don't have to do the daily updates and everything?" He added, "I'm still in the pool [recreationally]. I'm still not coming back."
That agent, Peter Carlisle, is also a close friend of Phelps who presided over the June wedding that the latter kept a secret through August's Olympics in Rio and into October. The 23-time gold medalist told Zaccardi that he and his then-fiancee, Nicole Johnson, hastily held a "backyard wedding" to make it easier for her and their infant son, Boomer, to travel together under the same last name.
In Rio, Johnson and Boomer, plus Phelps's mother Debbie, were able to cheer him on as he won five gold medals and a silver, giving him a total of 28 total medals and adding to the record he already held. Shortly before serving as the flag-bearer for the U.S. team, Phelps had said, "To have our firstborn be able to watch - I'll say this just, in case I come back - my potential last Olympics. Just so you guys don't beat me to death if I come back, I'm just going to say that: To have him watch the potential last races of my career is something I look forward to being able to share with him."
Of course, Phelps said similar things following the 2012 London Games, after which he also filed paperwork to remove his name from the drug-testing pool and "officially" retire, then unretired by adding his name back into the program in 2013 ahead of his comeback. Perhaps this time will stick, and his Rio races will be, in fact, the final ones of Phelps's incomparable career.
"Yes, I am done. I said it four years ago, but I actually am really done," Phelps said with a smile Monday at the Golden Goggles in New York, where he accepted an award for the Male Race of the Year for his victory in the 200 butterfly in Rio (remember the "Phelps Face"?). Now a husband and a father, he looked like someone very happy to end his swimming career on the highest of notes.
The Washington Post
Tue Nov 22 2016
![Michael Phelps is officially done competing as a swimmer . . . again Michael Phelps is officially done competing as a swimmer . . . again](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-08/51471061299_MichaelPhelps.jpg)
Now a husband and a father, he looked like someone very happy to end his swimming career on the highest of notes.
AWANI Borneo [16/07/2024] – SUKMA 2024 | Sentiasa berwaspada | Pintu sempadan
AWANI Borneo Selasa, 16 Julai 2024 bersama Fauzi Zin.
- SUKMA 2024 : Nasib acara takraw wanita diketahui Khamis ini.
- Ribut petir diramal di Sabah, Bomba saran penduduk berhati-hati.
- Urusan imigresen di sempadan, Malaysia-Brunei adakan rundingan.
- SUKMA 2024 : Nasib acara takraw wanita diketahui Khamis ini.
- Ribut petir diramal di Sabah, Bomba saran penduduk berhati-hati.
- Urusan imigresen di sempadan, Malaysia-Brunei adakan rundingan.
![Hukuman penjara bapa lakukan serangan seksual ke atas 3 anak perempuan dikurangkan Hukuman penjara bapa lakukan serangan seksual ke atas 3 anak perempuan dikurangkan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/51714453013_courtgavelmahkam.jpg)
Hukuman penjara bapa lakukan serangan seksual ke atas 3 anak perempuan dikurangkan
Dalam penghakimannya, Che Mohd Ruzima berkata perayu gagal membuktikan bahawa Mahkamah Sesyen terkhilaf dalam memutuskan kes itu.
Malaysia-Brunei adakan rundingan mudahkan urusan Imigresen
Malaysia dan Brunei akan mengadakan rundingan bagi memudahkan proses keluar masuk rakyat kedua-dua negara.
![Pan-gon mahu kekal hubungan baik dengan Malaysia Pan-gon mahu kekal hubungan baik dengan Malaysia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721124936_KimPanGon.jpg)
Pan-gon mahu kekal hubungan baik dengan Malaysia
Bekas ketua jurulatih Harimau Malaya Kim Pan-gon mahu mengekalkan hubungan baik dengan skuad itu biarpun tidak lagi bersama.
Kos pampasan tanah fasa 1B proses Projek LPB Sabah RM1.2 bilion - Alexander
Anggaran kos pengambilan balik tanah bagi keseluruhan Fasa 1B proses pengambilan tanah dan penilaian pampasan tanah bagi Projek Lebuh Raya Pan Borneo Sabah (LPB Sabah) berjumlah RM1.2 bilion.
Sentiasa berhati-hati, ribut petir diramal berlaku di Sabah
Orang ramai khususnya yang tinggal di kawasan berisiko di Sabah disaran agar bersiap siaga terutama dari segi perubahan cuaca yang tidak menentu yang seterusnya akan mengakibatkan bencana banjir dan pokok tumbang.
Nasib acara sepak takraw wanita diketahui Khamis ini
Nasib acara sepak takraw wanita berpasukan dalam Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA) edisi ke-21 di Sarawak akan ditentukan dalam Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa SUKMA Peringkat Kebangsaan pada Khamis ini.
JPBM Sabah serah jentera khas buat pasukan sukarela
Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia (JBPM) negeri Sabah sedang dalam perancangan untuk menyerahkan jentera khas, iaitu Volunter Fire Rescue Tender (VFRT) untuk Pasukan Bomba Sukarela (PBS) di Sabah.
Sarawak akan pertahan pingat sukan Muay Thai edisi lalu
Skuad Sarawak akan berusaha mempertahankan masing-masing dua emas, perak dan gangsa dalam kejohanan SUKMA yang dimenangi dalam edisi lalu.
![Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721124841_TBFAM.jpg)
Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi
FAM pernah berusaha memujuk Kim Pan-gon untuk terus mengemudi skuad Harimau Malaya hingga kontraknya tamat secara rasmi pada akhir tahun depan.
![Kanak-kanak 10 tahun pecah rekod 23 tahun Michael Phelps Kanak-kanak 10 tahun pecah rekod 23 tahun Michael Phelps](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-08/51533173648_TBCLARKKENTAPUANDA.jpg)
Kanak-kanak 10 tahun pecah rekod 23 tahun Michael Phelps
Clark Kent Apuanda berjaya memecahkan rekod berkenaan dalam Kejohanan Antarabangsa Far West baru-baru ini.
![Perenang Olimpik 'cabar' jerung dalam lumba renang Perenang Olimpik 'cabar' jerung dalam lumba renang](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-08/51471061299_MichaelPhelps.jpg)
Perenang Olimpik 'cabar' jerung dalam lumba renang
Beliau akan berlumba dengan seekor jerung dalam satu perlumbaan yang ditaja Discovery Channel.
![Enam kenangan terbaik di temasya Olimpik Rio 2016 Enam kenangan terbaik di temasya Olimpik Rio 2016](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-08/41471498641_UsainBolt.jpg)
Enam kenangan terbaik di temasya Olimpik Rio 2016
Temasya sukan Olimpik di Rio De Janeiro meninggalkan banyak kenangan pahit manis buat para atlet, namun yang lebih utama adalah dunia meraikan semangat kesukanan sejati.
![Ibu bapa dedah pengorbanan di sebalik kejayaan Joseph Schooling Ibu bapa dedah pengorbanan di sebalik kejayaan Joseph Schooling](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-08/81471513124_JosephSchooling.jpg)
Ibu bapa dedah pengorbanan di sebalik kejayaan Joseph Schooling
Colin dan May Schooling berbelanja sebanyak S$1 juta (RM2.98 juta) untuk yuran sekolah dan tempat tinggal Schooling di Amerika Syarikat.
![Joseph Schooling disambut bagai wira dalam acara perarakan Joseph Schooling disambut bagai wira dalam acara perarakan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-08/81471513124_JosephSchooling.jpg)
Joseph Schooling disambut bagai wira dalam acara perarakan
Pemenang pingat emas pertama negara itu Joseph Schooling disambut dengan penuh meriah dalam satu acara 'homecoming' yang diadakan pagi tadi.
![7 fakta Joseph Schooling, 'ikan bilis Singapura' yang tewaskan Michael Phelps 7 fakta Joseph Schooling, 'ikan bilis Singapura' yang tewaskan Michael Phelps](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-08/61471062771_Rio.jpg)
7 fakta Joseph Schooling, 'ikan bilis Singapura' yang tewaskan Michael Phelps
Joseph Schooling menewaskan jaguh renang Michael Phelps, dan sekali gus menyumbang pingat emas pertama Singapura dalam Olimpik Rio.
![Rio 2016: Perenang Singapura cipta sejarah, tewaskan Michael Phelps Rio 2016: Perenang Singapura cipta sejarah, tewaskan Michael Phelps](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-08/51471054882_JosephSchooling.jpg)
Rio 2016: Perenang Singapura cipta sejarah, tewaskan Michael Phelps
Schooling yang turut menewaskan Phelps dalam saringan, kini muncul selaku pemenang pingat emas Olimpik yang pertama buat Singapura.
![Rio 2016: Pengulas tersilap lihat lorong malu sendiri, umum Michael Phelps kalah Rio 2016: Pengulas tersilap lihat lorong malu sendiri, umum Michael Phelps kalah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-08/81470972331_Rio.jpg)
Rio 2016: Pengulas tersilap lihat lorong malu sendiri, umum Michael Phelps kalah
Seorang pengulas dari Kanada mengumumkan perenang Amerika Syarikat Ryan Lochte memenangi acara 200m medley perseorangan di temasya Olimpik Rio
![Rio 2016: Phelps pertahan emas acara yang sama buat kali keempat Rio 2016: Phelps pertahan emas acara yang sama buat kali keempat](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-08/61470807510_MichaelPhelps.jpg)
Rio 2016: Phelps pertahan emas acara yang sama buat kali keempat
Bintang sensasi Amerika Syarikat itu yang bertarung dengan rakan senegaranya Lochte, menamatkan perlumbaan dengan perbezaan dua saat sahaja.
![Rio 2016: Legenda Phelps terus membesar Rio 2016: Legenda Phelps terus membesar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-08/61470807510_MichaelPhelps.jpg)
Rio 2016: Legenda Phelps terus membesar
Jaguh renang Amerika Syarikat itu meningkatkan perolehan peribadinya kepada 21 pingat emas keseluruhan, dan mungkin bertambah satu lagi dalam acara minggu ini.