Is Michael Phelps competing in the 2021 Olympics?

When the swimming competition gets underway at Tokyo 2021, the sport will be without its biggest star: Michael Phelps.

For the first time in 25 years, Michael Phelps will not be amongst the athletes representing Team USA at the Summer Olympics.

When you win 28 Olympic medals, people sort of expect you to be there competing every four years at the Greatest Show on Earth. But eventually, even the best swimmer in history had to hang up his goggles. Rather than try for a sixth Olympics at Tokyo 2021, Phelps decided to go out on a high note, savoring every last minute of his final victory lap at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Phelps retired from competitive swimming as the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time. When all was said and done, the Baltimore Bullet had collected 23 gold, three silver and two bronze medals – 10 more medals than any other Olympian in history and more than double the next highest Americans.

No, Michael Phelps is not competing at the 2021 Olympics

Now 36 and a father of three, Phelps is considered old by swimming standards. However, it’s not inconceivable that he could have made another US Olympic team and even possibly added to his record medal haul. Given his versatility and ability to kick things up a notch when swimming relays, it wouldn’t have been entirely surprising to see Phelps as a veteran leader for Team USA swimmers in Tokyo. After over two decades in the pool, he probably still sweats out chlorine.

However, since Rio, Phelps has been enjoying retirement and raising his three sons. He has no plans to return to competitive swimming as an athlete but has already volunteered as an assistant coach for the Arizona State Suns Devils. Perhaps one day we’ll see Phelps back on the pool deck with Team USA – just don’t expect him to be diving into the water.