Being the greatest Olympian of all time requires full dedication and sincere efforts. The athlete has little time to spare for himself or his family. During his time as an active athlete, Michael Phelps didn’t take a day off, not even on his birthdays. But, having retired from the sport six years ago, Phelps has had a lot of time on his hands. Most of it has been spent with his family.

The swimming G.O.A.T. recently celebrated his 37th birthday and received thousands of wishes on social media, the most special among them came from his wife, Nicole Phelps.

Nicole’s special birthday message for Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps has had a lot of achievements in his life. The ‘Baltimore Bullet’ recently got inducted into the US Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame. This marked an important feat just days before Phelps’ birthday. But Nicole had something up her sleeve that would make his birthday even more memorable.

The leading lady in Phelps’ life has also been one of the most influential people around him. Nicole has stuck by her husband through thick and thin, and helped him work through his mental health issues. And on Michael’s special day, Nicole shared an emotional but beautiful post.

She took to Instagram to post a series of photos involving Michael and their family members, including their dog. The caption on the post read, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the best DADDY, HUBBY, & DOGGY DAD we could ever ask for!! Life with you makes me laugh, and forever grateful to have you by my side. May your day be filled with laughter and a ton of golf. Love you more.”

READ MORE: Olympic Legend, Son, Father, and a Human: A Tribute to Michael Phelps on His 37th Birthday

Notably, Nicole and Michael were in an on-and-off relationship before getting engaged in 2015. On June 13th, 2016, the couple married each other in a small ceremony involving close friends and family. Having celebrated Michael’s birthday, the couple will now gear up for their 6th marriage anniversary.

A heartwarming wish from his coach

Michael has craved a father figure ever since his dad left the family. He found one in his coach, Bob Bowman. After the separation of Michael’s parents, Bowman stepped up to not only help him train but also guide him through life.

On the occasion of Phelps’ 37th birthday, Bob posted a series of rare, unseen photos of the two of them. The caption read, “Happy Birthday, MP! Love you!!” Outside his family, Phelps has the strongest bond with his coach. Interestingly, Michael did not like Bob when they first met. Phelps said he hated Bowman and thought he would never swim for Bob. But after starting training, they developed a strong bond.

WATCH THIS STORY: Birthday Twins Michael Phelps vs Mike Tyson Net Worth Comparison 2022 Who’s Wealthier

Phelps kicked off his birthday in style as it coincided with the opening day of a special event. The two-day Icons Series kicked off on the same day as his birthday. With beautiful wishes from his wife and coach and a great day of golf, Michael couldn’t have asked for a better birthday.