Michael Phelps Explains Retiring Before 30, Says Chase Kalisz is Swimming’s New Talent to Watch

The greatest Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps, is clearly enjoying retirement as evidenced by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) interview above.

Phelps has no plans for the future, other than promoting the sport of swimming, which has been his mantra since he was sixteen.

Chase Kalisz, Michael Phelps former training partner at NBAC

Chase Kalisz, Michael Phelps former training partner at NBAC

On the swim side of things, it sounds like he has been following swim news…somewhat. It’s tough to tell. The WSJ interviewer asked Phelps toward the end of the video if he knew of any new talent emerging. Phelps commented on former NBAC training partner and IM specialist, Chase Kalisz, said he followed his progress at SEC Championships.  (Watch Kalisz’s SEC SwimSwam interview here, where he comments on Conor Dwyer’s SEC record and Tyler Clary’s NCAA Record.)

It’s understandable Phelps would give a shoutout to his training buddy (NBAC Swim Coach, Bob Bowman, certainly lit up Twitter with his congratulations), but you have to be a little curious whether or not Mr. Swimming is following Ryan Murphy or Jack Conger’s progress, among many others?  Knowing Phelps, who has surprised me commenting on swimmers’ times down to the one-hundredth, he probably has. Also, he seems to be aware of his impact in the community, seems to understand that staying neutral on emerging Team USA talent is, perhaps, the best position. Still, it’d be great to hear his thoughts on Olympic Hopefuls as they progress toward the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

You can catch Phelps weekly on Golf Channel’s The Haney Project, Monday, 9pm ET.

You can follow Michael Phelps on Twitter here.

You can follow Chase Kalisz on Twitter here.  

You can follow Coach Bob Bowman on Twitter here.

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Mr. Canada
11 years ago

Alec Page is gonna kick Chase Kalisz’s ass come Rio. Just saying. 😉

bobo gigi
Reply to  Mr. Canada
11 years ago

Who is Alec Page? Chase Kalisz will swim around 4.08/4.10 in the 400 IM this summer.

11 years ago

He will be back.

Birdo
Reply to  Sean
11 years ago

Nah…….no way will he ever come back to swimming.

bobo gigi
Reply to  Birdo
11 years ago

I hope MP will stay fit in the next years. But I don’t want a comeback from him. It would be absolutely useless. He has gone on the best possible note with great olympic games and on a win with the relay. Could he expect better than that? I don’t think so. He’s a legend.

About Gold Medal Mel Stewart

Gold Medal Mel Stewart

MEL STEWART Jr., aka Gold Medal Mel, won three Olympic medals at the 1992 Olympic Games. Mel's best event was the 200 butterfly. He is a former World, American, and NCAA Record holder in the 200 butterfly. As a writer/producer and sports columnist, Mel has contributed to Yahoo Sports, Universal Sports, …

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