According to his Twitter account, Michael Phelps is “taking some time away” from swimming and will “attend a program that will provide the help I need to better understand myself.
This will, for now, cut short the comeback attempt that he began earlier this year and that resulted in Pan Pacs gold in the 100 fly plus a spot on the 2015 World Championship team.
Spread across four Tweets on Sunday morning, Phelps said the following:
“The past few days have been extremely difficult. I recognize that this is not my first lapse in judgment, and I am extremely disappointed with myself. I’m going to take some time away to attend a program that will provide the help I need to better understand myself. Swimming is a major part of my life, but right now I need to focus my attention on me as an individual, and do the necessary work to learn from this experience and make better decisions in the future.”
Phelps did not give any indication about the exact program he was attending, or how long he thought he would be out for.
The announcement is in response to an incident and subsequent charges on 5 counts related to an early-morning arrest early on Tuesday morning in Baltimore. This was Phelps’ second arrest for DUI, with the first coming 10 years earlier.
Update: When asked about how this affects Phelps’ status for the upcoming World Championships, and whether there would be a suspension, USA Swimming says that they are “still considering all possible options,” and that right now they are focused on “completing the necessary due diligence” and conducting a thorough evaluation.
See Phelps’ full Tweets below.
I recognize that this is not my first lapse in judgment, and I am extremely disappointed with myself.
— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) October 5, 2014
I’m going to take some time away to attend a program that will provide the help I need to better understand myself.
— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) October 5, 2014
Swimming is a major part of my life, but right now I need to focus my attention on me as an individual,
— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) October 5, 2014
and do the necessary work to learn from this experience and make better decisions in the future.
— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) October 5, 2014
Going to rehab is a very wise decision. I wish him all the best in his recovery.
When he is swimming, he stays out of trouble…keep on swimming…swimming is not the cause of the trouble…swimming is a healer…swim for your life…”be like water my friend”
LOL! It’s amazing how so many of you think he’s going to a program out of his own self awareness and shame. This is purely a PR stunt to minimize the damage to his reputation and suspension from competition. Ill guarantee you his agent has this step by step plan laid out to avoid media back lash and endorsement drops.
This “program” he’ll be going to will be a walk in the park and nothing difficult. It’s amazing how blind fans can be.. Really is
EXACTLY…!!!! Its about minimizing damage to minimize financial loss. Grow up Michael. Get an education and use your glorious career in other ways to impact lives and have an even greater impact on the world in the future….or just remain self absorbed.
Even if it is so , Phelps knows there is a work to be done to reduce those tendencies . he could ignore the tendencies and go on living like before but if they show up again , what’s the strategy to be safe ? I beleive he knows there is a work to be done to uncover the cause of the tendency ( = addiction of any kind ) and work with it – in the future , he will be able to handle that with more awareness and confidence . There are thousands of people working out there who have deeper tendencies and stil won’t recognize anything ( it takes courage to do so ) and go on… Read more »
I’m not going to psycho-analyze him, or pretend that I know what’s REALLY going on in his life, because I don’t.
I’ve just enjoyed watching Phelps swim, and I hope I’ll get to again. God speed, Michael.
PS – go back to the 200 fly! You were MADE to swim that event!
Great move from him! I hope he come back stronger. Hopefully he won’t miss any major competitions.
I just hope this does not mark the end of MP’s comeback and swimming career. It would be a very bitter ending. Of course, his balance in life is much more important and I wish him the best.
I did not say anything bad but if Bob Bowman was expected to be a father figure ,what will be the role of male coaches in the coming era ?
That was to Dutchswimmer who wrote heartfeltly on the lack of a biological father.