Micheal Phelps Set To Another Break From Swimming

Michael Phelps said on Sunday he will take a break from swimming to attend a programme “to better understand myself”. The most successful athlete in Olympic history was arrested for driving under the influence for a second time on Tuesday. Police said he was clocked by radar at around 1.40am travelling at 84mph in a 45mph zone. He was booked and released.


Phelps made the announcement in a series of tweets on Sunday morning.

“The past few days have been extremely difficult,” he said. “I recognise that this is not my first lapse in judgment, and I am extremely disappointed with myself.



“I’m going to take some time away to attend a programme that will provide the help I need to better understand myself. Swimming is a major part of my life, but right now I need to focus my attention on me as an individual, and do the necessary work to learn from this experience and make better decisions in the future.”

I recognize that this is not my first lapse in judgment, and I am extremely disappointed with myself.

The 29-year-old, who in 2009 was photographed holding a bong and subsequently banned for three months, was arrested early on Tuesday and charged with drunken driving. Police said he failed a series of field sobriety tests and had a blood-alcohol content of 0.14%, well above the legal limit of 0.08%.

In November 2004, Phelps was stopped in Salisbury, Maryland, after failing to stop for a stop sign. He pleaded guilty to driving while impaired and was fined $250 and ordered to serve 18 months’ probation.

Phelps retired after the 2012 Olympics in London, having won a record 18 gold medals and 22 medals overall. But he returned to competition this year with the goal of making the 2016 Rio Games.

His comeback has produced encouraging results, including three golds and two silvers at the Pan Pacific Championships in August.