Michael Phelps Says He Would ‘Love’ to Have a Daughter After Retirement

Michael Phelps Says He Would ‘Love’ to Have a Daughter After Retirement
United States' Michael Phelps celebrates winning the gold medal in the men's 200-meter butterfly during the swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. AP Photo/Matt Slocum
Jack Phillips
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Michael Phelps has big plans for the future.

After winning six medals in swimming at the Rio Olympics, Phelps announced his retirement from the sport.

His fiancée, Nicole Johnson, gave birth to the couple’s first son, Boomer, earlier this year. Phelps, however, wants more children.

“We’ve talked about more [children]. We don’t really know how many more we want,” the 31-year-old swimmer told People magazine this week. “I think we’re gonna have some fun with Boomer before we make that next choice of trying for another one.

“We would love a girl. Love, love, love a girl,” he added. “We wanted a boy first, just in case we did have other children, [so] he could be the protector of his younger sibling or siblings.

“So we started off on a perfect note: We got a boy. We got a beautiful, healthy baby boy, and we’re looking to continue to grow our family.”

U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps's fiancee, Nicole Johnson, holds their baby son Boomer during the swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics on Aug. 10, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip )
U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps's fiancee, Nicole Johnson, holds their baby son Boomer during the swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics on Aug. 10, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. AP Photo/David J. Phillip

Phelps has taken home more than 28 medals in his career, and he’s considered the most decorated Olympian of all time. He won five gold medals in Rio.

“I have a beautiful fiancée, a beautiful baby boy [whom] I want to spend as much time with as I can,” he said last week, announcing his retirement . “I’ve been able to accomplish everything I could ever dream of [with professional swimming], and it’s time to move on.”

Meanwhile, Phelps’ teammate, Ryan Lochte, apologized for his “immature behavior” in a robbery scandal. “I’m taking full responsibility,” he told NBC News. His claim that he was robbed at gunpoint earlier this week was refuted by Rio police.

“And that’s why I’m taking full responsibility for it because I overexaggerated that story and if I never did that, we wouldn’t be in this mess,” he said. “Those guys would never be in Rio. None of this would have happened. It was my immature behavior.”

Phelps issued a statement on the matter, responding to a question from E! News about whether Lochte would emerge from the Rio controversy without blemish. “We have good people taking care of it, so hopefully,” he responded.

Jack Phillips
Jack Phillips
Breaking News Reporter
Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter who covers a range of topics, including politics, U.S., and health news. A father of two, Jack grew up in California's Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5
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