Now that Michael Phelps has retired from the Olympics, the games’ most decorated athlete has hissights set on a new goal: expanding his family. The 31-year-old champion, who is already afather to adorable three-month-old son Boomer, opened up to People magazine about his future plans.
“We’vetalked about more [children]. We don’t really know how many more we want,” hesaid. “I think we’re gonna have some fun with Boomer before we make that nextchoice of trying for another one.”
Photo: Instagram/@nicole.m.johnson
Michaeland his fiancée Nicole Johnson, 31, welcomed their first child together in May. The swimmer,who has already proven to be a gold-winning dad admitted that he would like to givehis son a sister.
“We would love a girl. Love,love, love a girl,” he said. “We wanted a boy first, just in case we didhave other children, [so] he could be the protector of his younger sibling orsiblings.”
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Photo: Instagram/@boomerrphelps
Michael noted, “So we started offon a perfect note: We got a boy. We got a beautiful,healthy baby boy, and we’re looking to continue to grow our family.”
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Though he is eager for more children,the Olympic swimmer has no plans of pushing Boomer or any of his future kidsinto the pool as they get older. “If he wants to get into swimming, that’s fine. Ifhe doesn’t, I’m fine with that too,” the US athlete said. “I was never pushedas a kid to put more time into the pool, or play other sports. My mom kinda letme make the call and choose what I was gonna do.”
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Photo: Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images
Michael completed his finalOlympic race, while competing in the 2016 Rio Games, taking home a total of six new medals. According to TIME, the athlete could face a “victory tax” of up to$55,000 on his medals (five gold, one silver) because the US OlympicCommittee awards athletes that place in the a top a bonus – $25,000 for gold,$15,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze. However, with his endorsement dealsthe sizable tax would have a small effect on Michael.
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“It’s time for me to start thenext chapter of my life, and I’m looking forward to that now,” thedad-of-one said. “I have a beautiful fiancée, a beautiful babyboy [whom] I want to spend as much time with as I can,” he continued. “I’ve been able to accomplish everything I could ever dream of [withprofessional swimming], and it’s time to move on.”