In an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show Wednesday, Michael Phelps touched on a number of topics, including – as per usual – his lack of desire for a comeback, and his experience swimming laps with the general public.
Phelps, 34, mentions that when he’s swimming laps at the “country club,” people will sometimes try to covertly push off the wall and race him. “It is comical,” Phelps says. “I’ll have people asking how I do certain things, and I try to be as nice as I can, but it’s challenging.”
Later, when Phelps is asked about the potential for a comeback, he says he would have had to be in the USADA testing pool by now (he thinks the cutoff is nine months out). That’s not actually true — the cutoff is now six months — but you get his point.
He says he’s in shape, but that he can “guarantee” he won’t be back for Tokyo 2020. A show hosts suggest that means he could be back for 2024, but don’t hold your breath.
Phelps also reveals he’s never ridden the New York City Subway, tries to “forget” about swims in which he missed the podium, and that he “never walked much” during his career.
Watch the full interview below:
Does he only own one suit ?
Swim suit?
flash forward 12 years… “Is there any chance you’ll be competing at the 2032 Olympics?”
Perhaps he’d consider the ISL next fall to help give it a further media boost, similiar to Natalie Coughlin this year? “Join our team, swim one event per day…. Come to Vegas!”
I’m not sure that Natalie Coughlin is a good example here with her negative points. ISL has to be treated as a business first of all if it calls itself a professional league.
Let’s see the ticket sales if MP starts swimming, then we’ll see if points really matter (he will never come back, him talking about Colgate on this clip probably made him more money than two years of ISL swimming)
If he feels unable to meet minimum quality limit he will never put himself in embarrassing situation. But the general opinion is that it won’t be a problem for him for many years ahead.
Natalie Coughlin has “negative points”? You mean like becoming a mom, creating a wine business, writing cookbooks? Or perhaps it’s her being one of the most respected swimmers of all-time?
Comments like this resulted in you being banned from other swimming sites.
No, he’s referring to the fact that she missed the “minimum time standard” in the ISL meet in Indianapolis in the 50 fly, which resulted in her receiving a -1 point deduction.
Her net scoring is still positive, at +2 points, though. The way they score an 8th place swimmer who misses the time is that they give them 1 point for 8th, and then give them -1 points for missing the standard, resulting in a net of 0 for that event. It’s really hard to net out to negative points – it would take limited entries and a DQ (which you still get points for, but then they take away -2 for the DQ) or a no-show to get… Read more »
I stand corrected on the negative points. Thanks BK.
I could see him coming to just do a meet and greet at the Vegas stop. But just Vegas.
He might be in Vegas but only for the gambling!!!
Phelps is ineligible for ISL given his suspension back in 2014 (and I believe 2008?)
That’s incorrect, as neither of those were doping violations. They were both ‘conduct’ violations. Marijuana and alcohol are both banned substances in competition, but not out of competition. The ISL zero-tolerance rules only apply to sanctions for Anti-Doping Rules Violations.
He’ll be back
Check out the GOAT on the Rich Eisen show as well (less swimming more Ravens football in this one)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzSEXge83hE
Doesn’t he incorrectly state that the drug testing window is 9 months, when it’s only 6?
I think its funny seeing people trying to subtly race myself when lap swimming, I can only imagine how hilarious it is to Phelps
I hope he cruises along, gives a subtle side eye, drops a turn like the 4×100 in Rio, surfaces at a cruise again like it’s all super casual.
The best will be, years into the future, racing kids…………who don’t know who Phelps is.
Sounds like a man speaking from experience crushing unsuspecting kids.
Tbh I don’t think any swimmer in Phelps’ lifetime (and maybe beyond) will “not know who Phelps is.”
Forgets about swims where he misses podium…only missed 2 olympic podiums i can recall, which is quite astounding
2 out of THIRTY. Totally nuts. And one of those was when he was 15.
Still hard to believe he only has one WR left (4IM)! That is why you can’t compare swimmers generational!
Still has 4×100, 4×200 Frees and 4Medley relay LCM