Michael Phelps Says He's Retired, For Real This Time

Michael Phelps says he is positive this time, his retirement from Olympic swimming is going to stick.

On Monday morning, Phelps appeared on the "Today" show in Rio, where he said he was "done" and that 2016 would be his final Olympics.

"I was so much more emotional during these games ... because I knew this was the last time," he said.

Phelps has generated some skeptics, including teammate Ryan Lochte. After all, Phelps said he was retiring after the 2012 Olympics.

Following his six-medal performance at the games, Phelps said that he had wanted to return on his own terms to finish things differently.

Phelps was on probation for 18 months after pleading guilty to driving under the influence in 2014. Since then, he has had a dramatic turnaround.

He carried the Olympic flag at the opening ceremonies for the 2016 games and swam his way to six medals — five gold and one silver — in the days that followed.

And the upcoming games Phelps is likely to be playing in are more likely ones that involve Boomer Robert Phelps, the first child for the champion swimmer and fiancée Nicole Johnson; their baby was born on May 5.

The couple will also be planning their wedding, which Johnson told Brides magazine will be held before the end of 2016.

Phelps said plans now include dedicating himself to family and travel. In addition, he plans to continue teaching people to swim so that the drowning rate improves. "That's a big goal of mine," Phelps said.

Photo Credit: Team USA/Flickr