Michael Phelps hosted a 26-minute long live video chat with his fans on Tuesday from his dorm at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.
Phelps covered a lot of ground in the segment, and while he wouldn’t share much about two subjects of hottest debate, Phelps did negate some options from two key categories:
- What events he will be swimming at the Olympic Trials, and
- What he and his fiancée Nicole will name their first child, a boy, that is due around May 27th.
On topic #1, Phelps affirmed his decision to not swim the 400 IM at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials as part of a general discussion about being smart in which races he chooses. He finished 4th in that race at the 2012 Olympics, but won gold in it at both the Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008) Games.
He’s also the World Record holder in the event by over a second.
As for topic #2, while Phelps mentioned with some coyness that he and Nicole had picked out a name for their soon-to-be-born son, and thought it was pretty special, they weren’t revealing exactly what it was. In response to one question, however, Phelps confirmed that his son wouldn’t be named Michael.
Our current Mr. Phelps is technically Michael Fred Phelps Jr., sharing the name with his father, though he doesn’t use the ‘Jr.” tag publicly.
Phelps also shared that he plans to race at Elite Invitational in early June, shortly after the baby is due. Read more about that meet here.
See Phelps’ full 26-minute chat below.
Pablo Morales
How were people asking questions? Does anyone know when the next one is?
The questions were written below the live chat in comments in Facebook.
Do the elite swimmers have different dorms at the OTC than the visitors?
Honoring an online poll of his fans, the child will be named GOATY McGoatface Phelps
Extreme Clever Flopper! I.am impressed beyond measure .☆☆☆
I always like listening to Michael’s interviews and chats. He’ll give you a real answer and he shares a lot. I wish him the best a Olympic Trials!
Always wondered if Phelps ever did anything for Jason Lezak after Beijing. If he didn’t, Jason would be fitting.
For the record, I doubt it’s this, but I just think it would be cool. Could also be Robert, I suppose, after Bob, but my gut tells me Michael isn’t quite that sappy.
i mentioned when they announced he was having a child that he should name it jason, cause he kinda owes it to him lol. great minds
They’re not married – it’s girlfriend Nicole, not wife – unless they’ve gotten married in the last few weeks?
From what I remember, they’re getting married after Rio