As the 2016 Rio Olympic Games approaches, Michael Phelps continues to prepare for the big swimming competition.
Michael Phelps 2016 Olympic Games Schedule
One of the best swimmers in our time will compete in this year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Schedule and Games:
Monday Aug. 8 - Men’s Swimming 200m butterfly Wednesday Aug. 10 - Men’s Swimming 200m individual medley Thursday Aug. 11 - Men’s Swimming 100m butterfly
Michael Phelps Spends time with Family
The Olympic winner is spending as much time with family as he can before the 2016 Rio Olympics kick off.
He welcomed his first son Boomer on May 5 with fiancé Nicole Johnson. Now that he is a father, he has to divide family and training time.
Phelps posted a Facebook photo with baby Boomer a couple of weeks ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Facebook User Johanne O’Brien said, “Happy for you that you finally could see your Boomer before the games Michael! Enjoy this is the most beautiful moments while they're that age!”
Michael Phelps Discuss Diet Before 2016 Rio Olympic Games
The 22-time Olympic champion posted a Facebook Live video back in May discussing his eating habits ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
“I don’t eat many calories a day. I just really eat what I need,” he said.
Back in 2008, when he was just 23-years-old, Phelps was on a 12,000 calories per day diet. At that time, he was training about five hours a day for six days out of the week.
Today, at age 30 and raising a family, he only trains two to four hours a day. But with baby Boomer around making him happy, the sacrifice is worth it. He enjoys grilling food for his family nowadays.
“My favorite thing to grill?” he asked. “Really anything … we eat pretty much everything here. Hamburgers, hot dogs are good, but also, being able to put a steak or some chicken on there is also awesome, as well.”
His longtime training partner and Olympic champion Allison Schmidtt was in the live video making a cucumber, tomato and asparagus salad to go with the grill chicken.
Phelps also likes Mexican food that his fiancé and mother-in-law cook for him.
Phelps Named Team USA Flag Bearer For 2016 Opening Ceremony in Rio
In addition to being one of the most celebrated and victorious Olympians in the history of the Games, Phelps will again make Olympic history this year with a new honor, having been bestowed on him: US Flag Bearer.
The 18-time gold medal winner was chosen by fellow teammates to lead Team USA into the 2016 Opening Ceremonies in Rio to bear the United States star spangled banner. The last time an Olympic swimmer was chosen to take on this honor was in 1976 when Gary Hall carried the flag for the United States.
Phelps is slated to be interviewed live by Matt Lauer on NBC's The Today Show on Wednesday morning to discuss this honor, his role as an Olympic legend, and perspectives on his past as well as looking forward to the future.
