Michael Phelps Skipping 2012 Olympics?
Posted in rumors
Despite his bong incident, Michael Phelps is in good spirits at the Meadowbrook Athletic Club in Baltimore, Maryland on Thursday (February 5).
The 23-year-old Olympic champion told the Balitmore Sun that he might pass on the 2012 Olympics, saying, “This is a decision of mine that I’m not going to make today and I’m not going to make tomorrow. It’s going to require a lot of time and energy and a lot of thinking for myself – but also talking to [coach Bob Bowman] and talking to my family and just deciding what I want to do.”
Phelps continued, “But I’m not going to let anything stand in my way. If I decide to walk away, I’ll decide to walk away on my own terms. If it’s now, if it’s four years, who knows. But it is something I need to think about and decide what I want to do.”
The CEO of the U.S. Olympic Committee said Wednesday he’d like to have a face-to-face meeting with Phelps, and spokesman Darryl Seibel said the federation was sending the Olympic star a letter offering its assistance. “We at the USOC, as we said in an earlier statement, are exceptionally disappointed in him, as he is in himself,” Jim Scherr said during a conference call that was set to preview the 2010 Winter Olympics.
DO YOU THINK Phelps should skip out on the 2012 Olympics — YAY or NAY?
Source: Just Jared » Michael Phelps
austin | May 28, 2010 | Reply
Do you see any other athletes that can smoke pot and still be the best? I mean there is no other athletes that can pull this off..what he is proving is he actually has a life in his off season..so if he can get to business during the season and still win he can smoke and drink when he wants..keep swimming til you cant no more .:) love ya mike phelps!
tom | May 28, 2010 | Reply
he should. marijuana doesn’t improve his performance
PhelpsPhan4ever | May 28, 2010 | Reply
He’s to good to quit! If he does, it would really make a difference for team U.S.A. I really hope he does go to the olympics in London.
WILLIAM PHELPS 111 | May 28, 2010 | Reply
WELL AFTER HEARING ALL OF THESE COMMENTS I THINK YALL SHOULD SUCK MIKES GOLD WINNING **** OH AND UR THE LOSERS UR JUST MAD THE HE CAN SMOKE POT AND STILL WIN 14 GOLD MEDALS YOU PEOPLE ARE A DISCRACE I WOULD TELL AMERICA **** YOU THEN ME AND 14 MEDALS WILL GO TO HOLLAND OR CANADA AND SWIM FOR THEM
MarcoPolo | May 28, 2010 | Reply
People are making waaay too big a deal out of this. So what if he takes a hit or two in the off-season? The guy is obviously not a loser or a detriment to society. He busts his ass for years to achieve his goals, and then he unwinds with a little weed. BFD. How many people have a few drinks after a rough week at the office? Millions. It’s the same with pot. America just needs to grow up and focus on more important issues, like, the economy is in the crapper and the planet is melting. LET MICHAEL TOKE!
wachagunnaduboutit | May 28, 2010 | Reply
Phelps is getting cuter and cuter, and whats the big dealeo? everyone smokes pot, its NOT anymore harmful than ciggs and its all GOD GIVEN, i suggest people grow some awareness about people actually wanting to alter their mental state and start some research on healthier alternatives if they can get any healthier than some kush.
6girls | May 28, 2010 | Reply
I think everyone should Leave Michael alone. So he made a mistake. Big deal. You learn from them. he worked very very hard to get where he is. Who is the one who snapped the photo? A jealous friend maybe? Shame on him who wants to see Michael fall! What about Ty from Extreme makeover? He didn’t lose his show! You keep going Michael! God Bless!
jen | May 28, 2010 | Reply
I think he should go… Focus on the swimming
Miap POCCA | May 28, 2010 | Reply
Micheal can simply just live his life..WHOEVER sent those pictures out must have been really vicious…all teh hypocrites making comments are behaving as if they never smoke week..every college kid and now to high school has had some experience with smoking week
Kellogs whoudl remember that we are in a reccesion and they just gave motehrs the excuse they need to buy store brand cereal, because micheal is no longer on it
Subway should also remember that there is an alternative and pot bellys is even warmer and a lot cleaner for the same price..so they can drop him all tehy want, but I THINK all college students shoudl teach these entities a lesson and take their money elsewehere
This kid worked all his life more than any other kid his age to win those medals..its an accomplishment beyoung he dreams of other atheletes …………………..
I propose that micheal just start his own tv show of something and jsut forgo teh olympics….if they are so dissapointed they can find anotehr champion…noownder Ian Thorpe is OUT and happy
Micheal should learn WHO HIS FRIENDS ARE AND WHO HE PARTIES WITH…
Weed is legal in several countries now and Kellogs should realize that they might get boycotted by all those weed smokers …I wonder if thier sales willd dip in Holland!!!..ahahahahah
not judging | May 28, 2010 | Reply
Michael, please realize that mistakes come with growing up unless you live in a bubble. Don’t let OTHERS judge your self worth and esteem when you have so much to offer the sport of swimming! Learn from your mistakes and try not to hurt others directly. If your family loves you and encourages you then forget anyone else that might have WISE advise to give you! Hogwash…..those who are jealous of you somehow must feel better about themselves when they can point fingers at others….as sick as that may sound.. Those who will try to judge you aren’t worth worrying about because their lives are probably full of mistakes. Fill you mind with the countless hours of community service you have already given and the insane hours training to get where you are!
Only listen to negative comments when they come from someone who has NEVER made a mistake! In other words….don’t listen to anyone who tries to bash you for your mistakes because surely they have a laundry list of mistakes they have made in life as they grew to be SOOOOOO smart and perfect!
There will ALWAYS be nay sayers Michael….but growing up also means feeling comfortable within your own skin that you try every day to be the best person you can! God bless and good luck in the 2012 Olympics! Millions will be cheering you on!
GG | May 28, 2010 | Reply
I have been one of your critics, Phelps, because I was blinded by what I thought was an untainted athlete. Oh no, don’t quit the Olympics. It just that we thought we had a perfect boy and our children looked in you. But it has been our mistake as parents to discuss the incident with your little fans, and not conclude to them that mistakes occur but one has to get up and shine again. Please don’t go. Don’t go away. We need you for the Olmpics. In the meantime, work for a cause related to drugs. We have US Presidents who inhaled, and we let it pass. Maybe Clinton, Obama & W. Bush can give you some 101 talk on this.
family | May 28, 2010 | Reply
Phelps really should be trying to set the story straight!!! He should go to schools and speak to others about his stupid decisions he’s made
Velvet | May 28, 2010 | Reply
I have been wondering why Phelps was dressing in grunge and looking like he needed a haircut/ bath etc. I doubt he was just “experimenting” with drugs. Kellogg, Disneyland and his other sponsors have no choice but to fire him. He’s a bad role model for kids. America is not this hard up for gold medals.
darlene lussier | May 28, 2010 | Reply
Phelps is a young man who has trained tens of thousands of hours–being devoid of a normal teenage life–so now he is doing young, immature behavoir. Give him a break–those of you who voted for Obama gave him a break–he did cocaine and other drugs in college. Phelps is still a champion with unbelievable talent. I believe in him–he has the support of a good family.
darlene lussier | May 28, 2010 | Reply
Phelps is a young man who has trained tens of thousands of hours–being devoid of a normal teenage life–so now he is doing young, immature behavoir. Give him a break–those of you who voted for Obama gave him a break–he did cocaine and other drugs in college. Phelps is still a champion with unbelievable talent. I believe in him–he has the support of a good family.
sneve | May 28, 2010 | Reply
Lay low Michael Phelps. Your critics will never be objective. There is nothing you can say to make it right (as trivial as this is)
Keep your dreams in view and forget about the noise surrounding you.
Rose | May 28, 2010 | Reply
if phelps skips the 2012 olympics, i might actually like him. no wait, i’ll never like him, but i hop that he does skip it, and worlds while he is at it. Why not ust stop swimming all together, and then we never have to hear of him again :p nah! thats mean…ah well.
Garst | May 28, 2010 | Reply
He shouldn’t not go because he smoked pot. There are countless celebrities that have done worse. Hell, some have even done things that courts had no choice but to send them to prison, and rightfully so. It’s not like there is anything now keeping him from participating in 3 years. So unless something else that’s more major, he should still go. I think he’ll regret it if he let’s this small thing from going to London.
jerome | May 28, 2010 | Reply
A moment of exhuberance and we want to deprive the world of one the best that we have seen.
Micheal may have made the one mistake, but we should be more interested in getting him back on track than eternally punishing him . . .lets all stop playing sanctimony and let the him be. Go on Mike, give em’ hell.
mario | May 28, 2010 | Reply
well, every one make mistakes,
he should be given a chance.
if we are to stop him in d
sport, den we are giving
him more time to do nothing, thus
possibly will lead to more escapades.
Rusty Snider | May 28, 2010 | Reply
OK….this is probably just something to say to get everyone’s attention off the pot-smoking incident. Plain and simple…..he screwed up but who hasn’t? Doesn’t make it right but get over it and go on. No need keeping your head in the sand. If he wants to compete then do it and if not then be successful at something else. Just make sure life matters and don’t waste it on the mistakes.
jasmine | May 28, 2010 | Reply
i hope if he decides not the come back, it has nothing to do with this recent incident. he’s an exceptionally talented athlete who seems to love his sport! he made a mistake, but he shouldn’t have to walk away from what he loves.
Jughed | May 28, 2010 | Reply
I think he should go for it!
He obviously needs some kind of goal to shoot for to keep him motivated. Otherwise, he’s just going to hang out all dang day smokin’ pot, hanging with Vegas strippers, and playing x-box. Not wise, mr. phelps.
joy | May 28, 2010 | Reply
I think Michael Phelps has proven that he’s the best swimmer ever. If he wants to swim in the 2012 Olympics, that’s great, and the same goes if he decides not to.
For a 23-year-old, he’s seen very little of life outside of a swimming pool and is rather immature in many ways. This might be an opportunity for him to figure out what he is going to do with the rest of his life. Twenty-three is way too young to have reached the high point in your life!
Maybe he should go to college. It would be an enriching, mind-opening experience, and he could really party! LOL