Michael Phelps had an incredible year. The Olympic swimmer and his then-fiancee Nicole Johnson welcomed son Boomer in May, he and Johnson secretly married in June and he finished his Olympic career in Rio this summer with a record 23 gold medals, making him the most decorated Olympian of all time. But he had one more accomplishment to add to his list before 2016 ends: gracing yet another cover of Sports Illustrated.
Phelps, who has 28 medals overall, officially bid farewell to the world of swimming in Sports Illustrated’s latest cover story. In the article, Phelps, 31, discussed why he decided to retire, his darkest days and the legacy he’s leaving behind. “If swimming is over for Phelps, there will be hours, days and months to fill,” Tim Layden writes. “His life has been a blur since Rio, but that will slow as the distance grows from his last medal ceremony.” Additionally, looking back on all of the medals he’s won, Phelps remembered the stories that go with them and the new stories that he has yet to tell.
The best sports year ever is going out on top, just like the greatest Olympian of all time (by @SITimLayden) https://t.co/yHZPDfpz1B pic.twitter.com/kDIfnKe2R7
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 20, 2016
Looking back, Phelps has appeared on the cover of 12 Sports Illustrated issues. Prior to his official retirement announcement, Phelps was joined by fellow Olympians Katie Ledecky and Simone Biles, the stars of the Rio 2016 Olympics. His first cover for the magazine was in August 2004, a preview for the Summer Olympics in Greece. He appeared on his first-ever magazine cover, according to NBC Olympics, at the age of 15.
Social Media Reacts to Latest Michael Phelps Sports Illustrated Cover
.@MichaelPhelps' first vs. most recent magazine cover.
June 2001 vs. December 2016 pic.twitter.com/sEe7QBME6U
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) December 20, 2016
Michael Phelps Poses With All 23 Gold Medals For First Time On His 12th Sports Illustrated Cover! #GOAT pic.twitter.com/FsL7k5Kv8w
— MySwimPro (@MySwimPro) December 20, 2016
There is nothing sweeter in sports. @MichaelPhelps is the best! https://t.co/I0KGIroitZ
— Kelly Bazzle (@KellyBazzle) December 20, 2016
Never before, never again! Congrats on an incredible career @MichaelPhelps #WhatALegacy #WatchedHimLive #BucketList pic.twitter.com/ngNPXun9rj
— Neelay Bhatt (@neelaybhatt) December 20, 2016
Poseidon!
⚡️ “Michael Phelps wears 23 medals on SI cover”https://t.co/WMfcv8PZz9— Saladin (@KillaKam1947) December 20, 2016
Michael Phelps wears 23 medals on SI cover. An incredible athlete and true American champion. #michaelphelps https://t.co/UC2LHTg7b0
— Rick Alcantara (@jerseycoach) December 20, 2016
Aw, my (and everyone's) favourite swimmer is officially retiring. Huge fan, thank you for being such an inspiration x @MichaelPhelps @SInow https://t.co/WDPAc7Uohx
— Emily McCauley Rath (@TasteofColorado) December 20, 2016
This photo is almost unreal, I would do anything just to achieve a fraction of what he has @MichaelPhelps pic.twitter.com/ZhatlcENOv
— Jordan King (@42jordanking) December 20, 2016
What has your favorite Sports Illustrated with Michael Phelps been? Sound off in the comments section below!
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons