NEWSMichael Phelps Talks About His Final Olympics & What He's Been Doing in the Olympic Village
July 25 2012, Published 4:35 a.m. ET
The Olympics are just two days away, but don't expect 16-time medal winner Michael Phelps to cave into the pressure. The 27-year-old swimmer has been taking it easy and relaxing since getting to London where the 2012 Summer Games will take place.
“I started The Wire and Breaking Bad,’’ Michael told TODAY special correspondent Ryan Seacrest Wednesday. “Just doing a little bit of sitting around and just watching shows and movies," in the Olympic Village where the athletes are staying.
OK! NEWS: MICHAEL PHELPS DROPS OUT OF SWIMMING MATCH AT 2010 LONDON OLYMPICS
It hasn't been all stress free however. The air wasn't working in his room so he's had to deal with London's sweltering heat without much relief.
“We walked in and tried to crank the thermostat down, but nothing was happening all day, and they told us in the meeting that we have no air-conditioning,’’ Michael said. “I think everybody on the team has a little college dorm fan that rotates, so we have some air circulating. Everybody has to deal with it.’’
The fan favorite has confirmed this will be the last Olympics he'll do. He's competed in four different Olympics and has won 14 gold medals and two bronze. He's just three medals way from being the most decorated Olympian of all time. Russian gymnast Larissa Latynina currently holds that honor.
“It’s kind of been weird,’’ Michael said about his final run. “We’ve said like, ‘This is my last Tuesday afternoon workout,’ or ‘This is my last double.’ It’s cool to say, but it’s also kind of emotional. One thing that I’m looking forward to this week is having a lot of good memories and having a lot of good moments, and I hope I finish my career with some good swims.”
Want OK! each day? Sign up here!
While the Olympic superstar qualified for eight U.S. Olympic trials, he admitted he wasn't at his best.
“Physically I’m a lot better than I was at the trials,’’ he said. “Mentally, part of it is coming day by day, and being able to visualize my races and prepare myself for what could happen, what I want to happen and what I don’t want to happen.’’
In preparation for the big event, Michael has been training at the London Aquatics and confessed the venue is a little nerve-wracking.
“It’s overwhelming. The deck space is kind of small, but you look up on both side of the stands, and there are a lot of stands up there. Hopefully we can have some loud cheering over here, and hopefully that place will be rocking. I remember back in 2000 (in Sydney), you could feel the floor shaking.’’
But he's not letting that get the best of him. He's focused and ready to win.
"I have a job to finish here. That’s why I’m setting out on Saturday to start my journey, and hopefully it’s a good one.”
