Michael Phelps Featured by Sports Illustrated, Brides, BBC

Rodgers Forge native Michael Phelps has been a media darling this week. First, he shared a video from his wedding in Mexico on Instagram, which has been viewed more than 500,000 times in three days. He was also featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated for the third time this year, donning his 23 gold medals. And he was selected as the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year.

In 2016 Phelps returned to the Olympics after making a lifestyle turnaround, he got married with two weddings and he became a father.

"We just decided to do everything with a bang and cram it all into a year!" Phelps told Brides magazine.

Before the Olympics, Phelps and wife Nicole Johnson married in their Arizona backyard, which he said was a move to make their overseas travel go more smoothly. For that event, she told Brides magazine their attire was sweatpants and pajamas and only a handful of people attended; but at their October wedding in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, the ceremony was formal and complete with a bridal party.

Son Boomer, who was born on Cinco de Mayo, was dressed in Burberry and acted as the ring bearer. Phelps sported a tan suit. Nicole Johnson wore a dress designed by Julie Vino for the big day, according to the Daily Mail, which reported the ceremony was held at El Dorado Golf & Country Club in Cabo.

Sports Illustrated featured him on the cover this week for the third time this year.

• In July he and six other Olympians were featured for a preview of the Rio games.
• In August, he was on the cover wearing his five Rio medals alongside swimmer Katie Ledecky and gymnast Simone Biles for a recap of the U.S. victories at the games, according to Team USA.
• In the issue released Tuesday, Phelps was shown wearing all 23 gold medals.

He was also honored at the December Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year event with a special tribute, and named BBC's Sports Personality of the Year.

Will those be his last golds? His wife told Sports Illustrated she is not convinced the retirement is a permanent thing. Noting that son Boomer may want to see his father compete, she said: "I give it eight years."

• Phelps Finished 2016 Olympics with One More Gold
• Michael Phelps Has Secret Wedding
• Phelps and Fiancee Are Pregnant
• Phelps on Life After DUI: ‘I Was in a Really Dark Place’
• Baltimore Ravens Pause Game to Watch Michael Phelps Swim in 2016 Olympics
• Michael Phelps Makes Olympic History
• 'Phelps Face' Trending After Olympic Qualifier Race

Image via Team USA/Flickr.