Michael Phelps Retirement Confirmed for After London Olympics 2012
LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Michael Phelps has confirmed his retirement for after the London Olympics 2012. Michael Phelps will retire from swimming after this summer, with the London Olympic Games 2012 being his final Olympics. Phelps made the revelation on CBS’ news program 60 Minutes last night. And despite Michael Phelps’ mother urging him to participate in at least one event for the 2016 Olympics, Phelps urged viewers of the news telecast that he is retiring after the summer.
Michael Phelps sat down with Sunday’s 60 Minutes by Anderson Cooper along with his mother. During the news interview, Phelps’ mother urged him to at least agree to swim the 50 freestyle for the 2016 Brazil Games.
Phelps declined. Phelps’ mother turned to her son and said “C’mon Michael just a 50 freestyle. I’ve never been [to Brazil] before.” Phelps replied “We’ll go watch. Once I retire, I’m retiring. I’m done.”
Phelps is currently twenty-six. During the Beijing Games, he won eight gold medals. But having earned sixteen Olympic medals, Phelps says he’s had enough, even though he’s lost one medal. He told the news telecast that he lost one of his 2004 Olympic gold medals during the games. “When we were traveling, someone was holding onto it.”
For now, Phelps is adamant he will not compete in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro games. But he promises to take his mother on a vacation to Brazil in the future.
