Michael Phelps’ Wife Nicole Johnson Once Conquered Him in the Arena Where He Used to Spend $25,000 Weekly
Follow Us
Michael Phelps is a man of many talents. The 23-time Olympic champion, with the title of most decorated Olympian ever, has a competitive spirit that stretches out to other sports. He is an avid golfer, a video game lover, and enjoys football.
He’s even a damn good poker player. But it seems his wife and the mother of his three children might be even better. After all, she made it further than the Olympian at the poker tournament held after the “Big Game Big Give” fundraiser in 2017.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Nicole Johnson Phelps is better than the swimming GOAT at poker
Each year, The Giving Back Fund holds an exclusive Super Bowl event, “Big Game Big Give”, which raises millions of dollars for worthy charities worldwide. In 2017, Michael Phelps co-hosted the conjunctive celebrity poker tournament after the event with 2006 WSOP Main Event champ Jamie Gold.
But though the Olympic champion rules the swimming pool, his wife managed to out-poker him on the big night. According to Page Six, Nicole Johnson Phelps made it further than her husband at the poker game held at the estate of Houston entrepreneur Michael Holthouse. “She beat him,” their sources reported. “They both ended up busting, but she made it to the final table and in the top three.”
Trending
Fans Worried About Kyle Busch Facing Prison as NASCAR Eyes Potential Return to International Waters
May 07, 2024 09:06 PM EDT
“Won’t Match the Level of Pain”- Danica Patrick Comes Clean on Her Inability to Accept Flawed Upbringing
May 08, 2024 06:05 AM EDT
NASCAR Fans Pray for Cup Series Star’s Loved Ones After Surviving Dangerous Tornado: “Absolutely Devastating”
May 08, 2024 02:42 PM EDT
“Gonna Kill Us”: Bronny and Bryce James’ Fear Comes True As LeBron & Savannah Catch Sons Red Handed
May 08, 2024 03:31 AM EDT
“Opportunity Is Closed for Him” – Jimmie Johnson Delivers Harsh News for Returning Driver Ahead of Darlington
May 09, 2024 08:04 AM EDT
Get instantly notified of the hottest Swimming stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.
Follow Us
The poker tournament was held the night before Super Bowl Sunday, an after-party to the fundraiser that had Josh Brolin as the celebrity host and ‘Friends’ star David Schwimmer as celebrity emcee. The 2017 event managed to raise up over a $1 million for the charity. They auctioned off items such as an NBA All-Star Weekend extravaganza, and tickets to the Hollywood premiere of Avengers: Infinity Wars, among others.
With an initial buy-in of $2,000, the grand prize of the tournament was an entry into the 2017 WSOP Main Event. But that’s not all. It came along with six months of private coaching with Jamie Gold himself. Of course, the package included first-class travel expenses and accommodations.
Michael Phelps is an experienced poker player
Not only does Michael Phelps have 27 World Championship titles to his name, but he is also an amazing poker player, making appearances in tournaments in the past. In 2018, he participated in several World Series of Poker (WSOP) events in Las Vegas.
The swimmer also appeared at the 2017 Annual World Series of Poker. Here, he entered the $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em tournament and donated any winnings to his Michael Phelps Foundation. In fact, by 2012, he was already playing high-stakes poker, buying into a weekly $25,000 game.
#TBT to when @MichaelPhelps was splashing around at the PCA and getting the better hand to fold. There are satellites running 24/7 online for #PCA2018 from as little as $1.10! pic.twitter.com/lVbJOAkiF2
— PokerStars (@PokerStars) November 23, 2017
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Reportedly, “Phelps has apparently enjoyed the tutelage of a number of poker mentors including Doyle Brunson.” That’s like taking swimming lessons from Michael Phelps himself. For the champion, poker is a fun way for him to unwind.
“Built Me Up as..”- Weighed Down by Pressure, Michael Phelps Once Revealed the Biggest Misconception About Him
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
“I’ve met some of my best friends at a poker table. Some of the kids I’m always with, who I talk to every day,” Phelps explained.
Really, is there anything that Michael Phelps is bad at?
Edited by:
Deepakshi Chaudhary