Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time. But after slamming the state of USA Swimming, does he want his four sons to follow in his footsteps?
“As a Dad to four young boys, it pains me to say that I’m not sure if I’d want my sons to be a part of this sport at a competitive level,” Phelps, 40, shared via social media on Wednesday, August 13. “Yes, swimming changed my life, but it also caused a lot of heartache, and its current state makes me both sad and angry.”
The 23-time Olympic gold medalist has been vocal about his criticism of USA Swimming in recent weeks, going as far as to accuse the organization of using him like a “piece of meat” throughout his career.
Phelps — who shares sons Boomer, Beckett, Maverick and Nico with wife Nicole Johnson — continued with a lengthy message on social media, criticizing the organization’s leadership and exposing the “cracks in the system.”
“If we don’t talk about it, it won’t get fixed,” Phelps wrote. “I want to see the sport flourish and I want to be a part of the solution. I’ve always said that I wanted to change the sport of swimming in the U.S. and that sentiment still holds true.”
“I still care and I’m not ready to give up,” he added.
