Michael Phelps, who retired from competitive swimming in 2016, had already established himself as the GOAT by 2008. His unprecedented eight-gold-medal haul, almost all earned in record-breaking times, hasn’t been replicated yet. 

Despite his astounding talent in the pool, swimming hadn’t always been Phelps’ dream. For a while, his relationship with the water remained sour. The Olympic legend had his eye on a different sport from a very young age that he would have willingly left swimming for.

Michael Phelps wanted to be a golfer

In 2012, a few months before the London Olympics, Michael Phelps sat with Rick Reilly of ESPN to talk about his career. He and his coach already had hinted at an upcoming retirement announcement after the Games. So what would he like to do once he stepped out of the pool?

“I want to play all the great [golf] courses,” Phelps told Reilly. “[Bob Bowman] gave me a poster with the 100 greatest courses in the world on it, and every time I play one, I put a little pin on it.” Unfortunately, the swimming legend had made no progress yet. Every time he got to travel the world for competitions, he’d simply do his job in the pool and return home.

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Golfing didn’t prove to be a new dream for Phelps. He’d always had a keen interest in the sport, perhaps even more than swimming. “Even in high school, I’d tell my mom I was sick of swimming and wanted to try to play golf,” he said. “She wasn’t too happy. She’d say, ‘Think about this.’ And I’d always end up getting back in the pool.”

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Phelps initially planned to hang up his cap and goggles after the 2012 London Olympics. However, he returned to the competition a couple of years after announcing his retirement to have another run at the 2016 Rio Olympics. His golfing dreams would have to wait just a little longer.

Phelps’ journey in the sport of golf

The most decorated Olympian, Michael Phelps, has also proved to be a great golfer. Since he retired from swimming in 2026, he has been pursuing his interests in golf, and it’s safe to say he is killing it. Recently, Phelps participated in the Icon Series, a recent celebrity team-style golf event to pit sports stars in match-play battle.

Here, the 23 Olympic titles holder went unbeaten over the two days and shared some insights into how his swimming career affected his play. Phelps said, “A guy I work with, Mike Abbott, compares it to what I was doing in the pool, and body position. For me, that’s all I know. I mean, I can literally do it in my sleep.”

And though understanding body positions came naturally for the champion, his competitive mindset becomes another story. His burning drive to win, which made him the greatest swimmer, can sometimes become a handicap in golf. 

“That’s been something I’ve really added and paid attention to. I want to slow down. Being in the sport of swimming, you just go, go, go, go, go. Out here, you can’t try harder or hit the ball harder,” he explained.

WATCH THIS STORY: Legendary Michael Phelps vs 17-year-old Chlorine Daddy David Popovici: Who’s Faster?