I'll be working with kids for the rest of my life.
— Michael Phelps
For the millionth time, I'm retired. I keep saying it, and people keep answering, 'Well, maybe he doesn't mean it this time.' But I do.
I think everybody pees in the pool. It's kind of a normal thing to do for swimmers.
I haven't swam in any of the rivers outside of Baltimore. I try to keep it in the pool.
I got a Cadillac Escalade. Put some rims on it, threw a couple TV's in there, and installed a system. I stuck my Xbox in there. I had to go for it.
I usually try to eat lot of calories. With so many events, it is important to sustain a high level of energy through the entire meet. I usually eat two hours before a meet.
Any Olympic sport is great to watch.
And, you know, being able to wear the stars and stripes, when you step up on one of the blocks or, you know, when you step off of an airplane or when you hear the national anthem play, you know, it's one of the greatest feelings in the world because you know that there are people at home who are supporting you and watching you.
I like to just think of myself as a normal person who just has a passion, has a goal and a dream and goes out and does it. And that's really how I've always lived my life.
Why is it such a big deal what I'm swimming?
I am 26 and, and I don't recover as fast as I have in the past.
I want to go to the World Cup. I want to go to the Masters. I want to go... anywhere.
I learned how fast you can go from being an international hero to being a reference in a joke on a late night talk show.
If I bring back only one gold people are going to say it's a disappointment. But not too many of them own an Olympic gold medal so if I get one I'm going to be happy.
My mom put me and my sisters in the water to feel comfortable, to have water safety.
I try to separate my personal life from swimming.
I believe in God; I'm not saying I'm highly religious.
There are too many kids who are drowning for lack of water safety. That's something I'd like to do. Teaching kids to live an active lifestyle.
I still remember the days, not wanting to see anybody, not wanting to talk to anybody, really not wanting to live. I was on an express elevator to the bottom floor, wherever that might be.
I want to retire how I want to retire - and I have a great opportunity to do that.
I've never lifted a single weight in my life.
I'm a Dunkin' Donuts kind of guy. I also like Cadbury's.
I can only control my own performance. If I do my best, then I can feel good at the end of the day.
Growing up in high school, I wasn't hanging out with friends every day or on the weekends. Doing normal high school kid things was something I was willing to give up.
I think to be - for me to be an American is - you know, it's one of the greatest things in the world for - you know, for me just because I've been able to grow up with everything. The freedom. You know, in my eyes this is the greatest country in the world.
I know it won't be eight medals again. If you want to compare me to that, that's your decision, not mine. I'm going out there to try to accomplish the things that I have in my mind and in my heart.
I got the stamina. I can close.
So, you know, if, if I wanted to get up and just play golf one day, I would just get up and play golf. If I wanted to go to Vegas, I would just get up and go to Vegas.
People say to me, 'You're so lucky. You get to see the world.' But I don't. I go to the hotel and to the pools and back again. That's it.
I feel most at home in the water. I disappear. That's where I belong.
I can't remember the last day I didn't train.
I think the biggest things I am looking forward to is getting new faces into the sport. Getting kids who could be afraid of water to feel comfortable in the pool.
I live a pretty conservative life, so I probably really haven't done anything crazy.
This is my 20th year in the sport. I've known swimming and that's it. I don't want to swim past age 30; if I continue after this Olympics, and come back in 2016, I'll be 31. I'm looking forward to being able to see the other side of the fence.
I want to continue the sport of swimming. I'm not going to give up until I think it's reached where I want it to go.
For so long, I looked at myself as literally a kid who was talented who would go up and down the pool. That's it. Nothing else. Very few people knew who I really was.
I have a lot of goals, but I think that I just want to take it day by day.
I eat pretty much whatever I want. I don't have a strict diet. It's all about cramming in as many calories into my system as I possibly can.
Every sponsor I've had has been something that fit my lifestyle, fit my personality.
I listen to music before my competitions to get me pumped up. It helps me stay focused.
It doesn't matter what else is going on. When you walk into your arena or your - whatever you excel at, you're there to take care of the job that you have to do.
I consider myself normal. I've spent 20 years in the pool. I consider that something that's normal.
I've been able to get an excitement back in the water.
Once I retire, I'm retiring. I'm done.
Even in high school, I'd tell my mom I was sick of swimming and wanted to try to play golf. She wasn't too happy. She'd say, 'Think about this.' And I'd always end up getting back in the pool.
I'm so sick of the water.
The more you dream the more you achieve.
Yeah, my friends call me Mike, Michael or just my last name.
It's cool just because I've had this dream of changing the sport of swimming and it's finally happening.
I used to always go to church on holidays, but I don't go much any more.
