Tokyo 2020 Olympics has already started and best athletes from different countries are competing for medals in various sports. If anyone talk about Olympic games then the first athlete that comes to our mind is none other than Michael Phelps. If anyone knows something about Olympics then he surely knows how great Michael Phelps is. He is the most decorated Olympian in history. Those viewer who are new to Olympics might be thinking Why is Michael Phelps not in the Tokyo Olympics. In this article, we will give you the answer to this question.
In case you don’t know who Michael Phelps is then here is the answer. Michael Phelps is an American swimmer who holds the record for the most Olympics medals won by any athlete at 28, including 23 gold medals and 13 individual golds. He has 10 more Olympic medals than former Soviet Union gymnast Larisa Latynina, who won 18 throughout three Games from 1956 to 1964.
Phelps made his debut at the Olympics in 2000 Sidney. At that time he was only 15 years old, being the youngest man of the US Olympic swimming team in 68 years. He won medals in the next four Olympics in every event he competed except for the 400m individual medley at London 2012.
Why is Michael Phelps not in the Tokyo Olympics ?
Michael Phelps is not playing in this year’s Olympics because he has already retired. Phelps took retirement after competing in the 2016 Rio Games. In his final Olympic race – the 4x100m medley relay –he posted a 47.12 second run, the fastest 100 free split of his career, to truly go out on top. After winning his final five gold and one silver medals in Rio 2016, the greatest Olympian announced his retirement from swimming.
Is Michael Phelps retired from the Olympics?
Phelps said the following after the 2016 Summer Olympics.
“I’ve been able to do everything I’ve ever put my mind to in this sport. And 24 years in the sport. I’m happy with how things finished,” he said. “I’m ready to retire. I’m happy about it. I’m in a better state of mind this time than I was four years ago.”
