OlderMichael Phelps Skipping 2012 Olympics?
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?
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78 Comments
So why not get on his case and make him do the Olympics..
Too gifted he can’t quit. love him even more knowing he is just being a typical kid experimenting. Shouldn’t smoke goncha though. It makes you lazy and hungry. well thats what i heard. lol
Yes, skip. He’s playing mind games now, which I find even less appealing than the picture.
He ain’t gonna quit…..if the speedo fit you must acquit ;p
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006718/
i’d rather quit when i had won more medals than anyone than go for the next one and not do as well
I think he should start training now and try to get his reputation back. He should show everyone he made a mistake and wants to take the
right measures to make ammends. A lot of young kids look up to
him and maybe this would be a step in the right direction.
immature douche with incredible talent.
Phelps has been a very successful athlete over the years and I thing people should stop saying he is just a normal kid and bla bla bla because he is not, we all know sports and drugs don’t go along , if he was a singer or a actor no big deal but a athlete can not use drugs and be successful NEVER EVER!
HE’S A LOSER ….THAT’S WHAT DRUGS WILL DO TO A PERSON
DUI in 2004, pot in 2009, just say you like doing this type of thing, better than pretend you don’t, in 2004 he say he regret big time, so why do again?? Adimit you like it!!!
He is a mere swimmer—-he didn´t invent anything.
Americans really should stop treating him like a halfgod.
Wonder if the southern witch who sold the story for money feels good about rolling in it right now? Once the money is gone and her name exposed, she might want to take an eternal swim in the Atlantic Ocean.
Anyone judging this young man has not raised a contemporary teenager who is now in his/her early 20s. Most of the people who have no early life experiences, are the uptight adults who end up in mid-life crisis or holding destructive secrets during their adult years.
cry me a river
Obviously, he has not been smoking in the past to have lung development of his capacity and to be one of the greatest athletes of all time, i.e. that doesn’t come from being an abuser of anything.
Stop the judgment people….
He should just shut up and go about his business. This maybe I will, or maybe I won’t talk shows how immature and self-centered he is. He now has the IOC groveling at his feet. He’s immature, but has learned how to play the game, I’ll give him that.
I don’t think he should quit his swimming career but I think he should quit his stupid life style. He needs to grow up and act like a young man, a 23 year old and not a teeny bopper. He might also want to brush up on what constitutes illegal substances as well as driving while under the influence — GROW UP DUMB ASS and keep on swimming and start being the role model you were intended to be. Your apologies have become ineffective.
he jus want to play it “safe” I think……
WHO CARE!!!! ugly mofo
#12 — SO VERY TRUE!!
Its his life and decision
just quit while still ahead
SLOTH …UREHHHHHHHHHH
DUI…ILLEGAL …DUH
POT…ILLEGAL…DUH
I don’t condone drug use of ANY kind, however, some people are acting like what he did is the most egregious thing ever. Get a grip! I think he should shut his mouth and allow the brouhaha to die down, and in the meantime, continue training and maintain a low profile. People are pretty forgiving if you apologize, which he did, and do not continue partaking in the offending behavior. Whether he likes it or not, he is a role model, so he should always bear that in mind when he goes out in public. People are going to be looking to him to set a good example. Maybe he should immure his activities to the swimming pool for a while and avoid any potentially deleterious situations while this whole thing shakes out.
Would he rather smoke weed and drive drunk in peace…
He is just as ignorant as I thought he was…all he ever had was swimming. He is almost like a pop star - like Britney - knows nothing abut life.
yes, matt, probably because most of their lives they have been either working as a teenager (Britney or many child actors) or training (many gold winners). When they grow up or decide to retire they find that they missed out too mcuh and ho as ina binge.
I bet many athletes have done even worse experiments after their competitions, but there were no people o sell them out, and maybe no camera cell phones.
He is no better or worse than many. And he has nothing to prove, he’s already won.
I do not think he will become an addict, and sure he is a poster boy and has benefited from it, but going further as to make demands it is too much. After all, he is human only, and should be allowed to make mistakes, just as many of politicians have also consumed, etc.
Ugh this is all so lame… smoking pot is not a big deal! It does way less damage than alcoholism or heavy tobacco use.
he’s rich. what does he care. he wants to enjoy his youth now… what’s left of it. i say let him. realizing ever mistake he makes is in the spotlight is probably enough for him to say enough.
the olympic committee wants to both talk about their extreme disappointment… and assist him in coming back. he was good press for them. it’s all business. people are so naive.
He already has * metals so it’s not like he is quitting his dreams. I’m supporting him either way!
He already has 8 gold medals so it’s not like he’s quitting his dreams. I’m supporting him either way!
GIven the sacrifices he’s had to make over the last how many years to get to where he got in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics…I think Michael Phelps deserves to whatever the hell he wants. Talk about “much ado about nothing.”
He’s just a doofy kid who, were it not for his mom, would have spent the rest of his life working at Target. My only issue is that he spent his time in a back-asswards place like South Carolina to begin with. Mike, you wanna party, do it in Vegas, it stays there.
C’mon people, let it go already. What’s the big deal?! He smoked some ganja. Yawn.
I hope someone will find that jerk who leaked the pic….
noooooooooooooooo!!! please don’t quit!!
he looks like a ******* douche
personally i dont really care if he’s allowed or not
anyway, whatever dont care
He might drive under the influenced of Weed, then get someone killed, He is the jerk for smoking weed while in the public eye.
Let er rip their Mr. Phelps. What do you have to prove anyway? Light up, turn the lights down and listen to a little Pink Floyd.
Most of the kids I knew growing up have tried pot least once in their life, but to read most of the posts I just read, we just must of cut across an angelic section of the world at large who all live Saintly lives. Big deal, he took a hit on a bong. People are just about equating this to some major league crime. I dont care who looks up to him, it’s his life to lead and if he wants to smoke pot, let him for all I care. I don’t smoke pot, do drugs or smoke cigs, but thats my life choice and I don’t have people deciding it for me. People need to get a freakin grip on their own lives and stop focusing in on silly crap like this.
You guys need to get off your high horses. It looks like a bunch of snobs are on this site.
He is not a rolemodel…the media makes him a rolemodel..He is not responsible for your children…or their self esteem..or any of their issues. If he wants to smoke weed. So what.
You people are hilarious
omg! I hope he doesn’t skip the 2012 oylimpics because I was planing on going to see him! for god sake
seriosuly ashley? he literally is nothing without swimming - have you ever heard him talk? Thank god he can swim - cuz he has nothing else going for him. And I dont think he realizes that once hes done - hes done. He was never celebrity status like a music icon or MAJOR sports star - yea he has more golds than anyone - but he wasnt around for even 3 olympics? I mean I dont know - no one in here agrees because he was americas glden boy. This goes beyond the pot…who cares about that?!?! I just think he is being his trashy low class self he was destined to be before he became a swimmer. You can see it in his interviews. He is as dumb as a box of rocks..no offense to him…just thank the good Lord above he can swim.
nooooo!
dont skip them!
Sounds like he’s covering his ass just in case the Olympic committee dosen’t allow him to compete. Many don’t believe what he did is bad but it does break the committee rules.
If they waived the rules for him they would have to for all athletes.
i hope he doesn’t quit. i mean, i’m totally against drugs. i have friends who are screwed up because of them, but i’m just wondering if all the people making a big deal about this and saying he sucks voted for obama because he’s admitted to doing drugd when he was younger. and phelps is obviously not an addict because he gets srug tested at most of his competitions. he’s allowed to make mistakes
Olympics mean drug tests. So, no.
honestly, how many teens do YOU know do pot? i know a TON of my friends- who are now esteemed, professional doctors- did pot when they were younger. maybe not as a habit, but how can we judge him? sure, it was an irresponsible thing to do when you’re in the spotlight and a world-class athlete, but he shouldn’t give up his talent for something as stupid as this. in fact, he should work TWICE as hard to redeem himself and to prove to everyone his professionlism and the true meaning of an athlete. he seems like a sweet kid with a lot of ambition. for his sake i hope he doesnt let all this get to his head, and i SINCERELY hope he isnt addicted!!! :/
anyways michael phelps was AMAZING in bejing, and he should be remembered for THAT, not this.
PHELPS 2012!!! :)
He has nothing left to prove. He needs to lay low and stay out of trouble and rake in themoney. The only thing he can do with the extra publicity is tarnish his image. He is perfect now.
Enjoy your life, Michael Phelps! Only he is responsible for his soul’s growth and path. He owes nothing further to America (except his chosen philanthrophy) and it will be a long time for anyone to catch-up to his Olympic records and achievements! Thinking Americans are behind him no matter what Colorado Springs says about an indiscretion at a party in backwoods South Carolina that enticed a greedy person to sell a photo of him from a young party to a British Tabloid….the sell-out witch didn’t even have the real woman ovaries to sell in America, eh?
Person who wrote “Olympics mean drug tests”….use your head!
This young man would not have been able to break Olympic records if he had been a frequent marijuana smoker. This guy (until Fall 2008) has lived swimming 24/7 since he was a young boy which means he missed out on a lot of childhood everyday lessons from which children mature. It was appropriate that he “let his hair down” after this great fete on behalf of himself and America.
Whoever sold the photo to the British tabloid needs to be exposed immediately. They are so spineless they didn’t have the courage to sell it in this country!
no he is way to good and this will blow over.
inbred.
inbred.
DROPPED LIKE A HOT POTATO …BY KELLOGG CO. ..NOW WE WON’T HAVE TO SEE YOUR UGLY POT SMOKING MUG ON THE CEREAL BOXES ANYMORE!!!!
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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!
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
I think he should go… Focus on the swimming
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!
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.
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!
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
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.
he should. marijuana doesn’t improve his performance
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!
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