Michael Phelps Archives

Olympic champion Michael Phelps speaks candidly to NBC’s Matt Lauer about the night he was photographed smoking pot from a bong, the impact it has had on his career, and why its important for him to return his focus back to what he loves most, his family and swimming. Here are some interview snippets:

On how he found out about the pot pic: “I forgot how it was. Somewhere in– it was through an e-mail form. And I had no idea really what to do. You know, I knew that I’d made a mistake and made a bad judgment. And– and, you know, I know that when you do make a mistake, you know, you’re responsible for all of the consequences. And I was willing to, you know, accept the fact that I did make a mistake.”

On what happened the night of the pic was taken: “I mean, we were just celebrating, honestly. And– you know, there was probably two or three people there I didn’t know. It was a very small group. Six or seven people probably total in the whole house. Like nothing major. You know, not like a giant college house party. It was nothing like that. It was just a small group and we were just sitting around and celebrating.”

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Although Olympics hero Michael Phelps lost his Kellogg’s endorsement, sandwich chain Subway announced Friday it still supports him.

“Like most Americans, and like Michael Phelps himself, we were disappointed in his behavior,” the statement said. “Also like most Americans, we accept his apology. Moving forward, he remains in our plans.”

One week ago, Phelps was criticized for smoking from a marijuana pipe. Since then, he has apologized but has been suspended from competitive swimming for three months.

Cereal maker Kellogg’s is the first sponsor to dump Olympic champion Michael Phelps over his bong incident.

A Kellogg’s spokesperson said that the company will not be renewing Phelps’ endorsement deal, which expires at the end of this month.

Kellogg’s statement said, “Michael’s most recent behavior is not consistent with the image of Kellogg’s.”

In addition, Phelps was suspended from swimming competitively for three months by USA Swimming.

“This is not a situation where any anti-doping rule was violated, but we decided to send a strong message to Michael because he disappointed so many people, particularly the hundreds of thousands of USA Swimming member kids who look up to him as a role model and a hero,” the federation said in a statement. “Michael has voluntarily accepted this reprimand and has committed to earn back our trust.”

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?

Olympic great Michael Phelps has apologized for smoking marijuana.

In a statement released to The Associated Press, Phelps said, “I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment. I’m 23 years old and despite the successes I’ve had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again.”

Yesterday, UK tabloid News of the World published the bong picture of the swimmer, who won a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Games.

No word on whether or not Phelps has been released from his multi-million dollar endorsement deals.

BONG BOY

Swimming champ Michael Phelps smokes from a bong during a weekend filled with smoking weed and chugging booze, reports UK’s News Of The World.

“You could tell Michael had smoked before,” the paper’s source revealed. “He grabbed the bong and a lighter and knew exactly what to do. He looked just as natural with a bong in his hands as he does swimming in the pool. He was the gold medal winner of bong hits. Michael ended up getting a little paranoid, though, because before too long he looked like he was nervous and ran out of the place.”

The 23-year-old Olympic champion’s team reportedly tried to bribe NOTW not to run this bong picture because the Olympic champion could potentially lose all of his endorsement deals. Phelps has won a record 14 gold medals.

If you don’t believe the picture is really of Phelps, check out the pics below of Phelps at various events last year. He’s wearing the same blinged out croc-skin watch on his left wrist as in the bong picture.

WHAT DO YOU THINK of Michael Phelps smoking from a bong? Have you lost respect for the Olympic champ?

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Swimming superstar and Olympian Michael Phelps covers the new issue of ESPN the Magazine - featuring the ESPN 100 (annual list of biggest achievements, letdowns and sports controversies of the year.)

The 23-year-old American sensation is decked out with colorful and dramatic tatoos all over his face and body.

Click inside for a larger cover!

WHAT DO YOU THINK of the ESPN mag cover with Michael Phelps — YAY or NAY?