The swimming community received some exciting new late last week in the form of Michael Phelps and fiancée Nicole Johnson’s announcement that the couple is expecting their first child together.
Expecting a baby boy sometime in the month of May 2016, Phelps is already keeping his future son’s best interests at heart. In a recent interview, Phelps says of his heir, “He’s definitely going to be water safe.”
In terms of trying to top the greatest Olympian of all time’s 22 Olympic medal count, Phelps said of future MP Jr, “If he wants to swim, I’ll let him. But I’m not pushing him. Everyone’s been commenting like, ‘I guess he’ll be in the Olympics in 2032, but no… if he wants to swim, he’ll swim, but he’ll definitely be water safe, that’s for sure.”
As to how Phelps perceives having a baby in the picture will alter his approach to entering his fifth Olympic Games, the 30-year-old responded, “It’ll be a different process going into this Olympics and I think it’s just one that I’m looking forward to and we’re excited about”. Phelps indicated that their son would most likely be joining the couple in Rio for the Games.
It sounds as though the couple has each other’s backs throughout the natal adventure. Says Phelps of his fiancée, “Pregnancy brain really does exist. I thought that was just a myth! Pretty wild. We’re just doing what we always do, just supporting one another with everything. Nicole and I have had a long history and we’re just better than ever and I guess better now than we ever have been.”
Down tickers –
Please go to Infantswim .com to see the statistics for drowning deaths ( & brain injury for many of resuscitated) in the U.S. .
Arizona is one of 10 states where drowning is the leading cause of deaths for under 14s . The other 9 had vast areas of water & expected but Arizona is desert . That is pools & water storage & heat combination .
70 % of under 4 years of age brain injury / deaths were when under a parents supervision . Considering this would be most of the time, the other 30% demonstrates carers friends & relatives are a high danger . It is noted that most cases are where… Read more »
Won’t stop the down votes, Gina. Although your points are good and valid regarding child water safety you’re taking a parent’s comment that his future child will be water safe WAY out of context. MP’s statement is one of the most loving things a parent could say. He’s saying that he won’t expect the Greatest Swimmer Of All Time’s son to be “the next MP” in the pool. MP hoping for the best for his child is something that should be commended and WAY up-voted. Rock on MP, you’ll be a good Dad.
I think you make good sense (95% of the time). This is another example of your expressing a prudent perspective.
‘About what I was going to put her through ‘ . Meaning she had to be exposed to diving pools & cold dark water . Even as adults the shock of both can throw all our swim abilities out & we freeze with fear .
No child is water safe . The ever present danger of water accidents requires parents to be vigilant in each & everyplace they go . An example I used in my Babies class was that of my own 9 month old whose ( other side) grandparents left him to crawl around their pool thinking it ok because it had a fence . A more adventurous child would have gotten Under the fence . But still they could not understand my anger . It is very stressful because no one has that hyper awareness like parents . I can remember patrolling yards for buckets with residual water ( toddlers can look in & tip over ) .
In a case… Read more »
While I hear your underlying message (always be vigilant) in this case water safe doesn’t seem to include negligence or lack of concern for dangers posed. Still, it is a good point to raise.
See, and i completely agree with phelps here. My kids will swim summer league neighborhood swimming every year until about high school. Because thats how i learned to swim. And because it kept me out of trouble during the summer. but during school year if my kid wants to play basketball, or football (i’ll make sure he is the best dang punter ever) or play chess, theater whatever i dont care. But my kid will learn to swim, it makes being in the water more enjoyable. i dont expect my kid to love swimming as i did.