Michael Phelps

“I think everybody pees in the pool. It's kind of a normal thing to do for swimmers.”

“I have reached a place in my life where I need to sit down and say, 'Well, what do I do? What's best for me?' I need to look into options for the future.”

“I live a pretty conservative life, so I probably really haven't done anything crazy.”

“I like to just think of myself as a normal person who just has a passion, has a goal and a dream and goes out and does it. And that's really how I've always lived my life.”

“My mom put me and my sisters in the water to feel comfortable, to have water safety.”

“I try to separate my personal life from swimming.”

“And, you know, being able to wear the stars and stripes, when you step up on one of the blocks or, you know, when you step off of an airplane or when you hear the national anthem play, you know, it's one of the greatest feelings in the world because you know that there are people at home who are supporting you and watching you.”

“I want to test my maximum and see how much I can do. And I want to change the world of swimming.”

“I learned how fast you can go from being an international hero to being a reference in a joke on a late night talk show.”

“I still remember the days, not wanting to see anybody, not wanting to talk to anybody, really not wanting to live. I was on an express elevator to the bottom floor, wherever that might be.”

“If I bring back only one gold people are going to say it's a disappointment. But not too many of them own an Olympic gold medal so if I get one I'm going to be happy.”

“I feel most at home in the water. I disappear. That's where I belong.”

“For the millionth time, I'm retired. I keep saying it, and people keep answering, 'Well, maybe he doesn't mean it this time.' But I do.”

“I think that everything is possible as long as you put your mind to it and you put the work and time into it. I think your mind really controls everything.”

“Being compared to Ian Thorpe, that could be one of the greatest compliments you could ever get in swimming - being compared to him and Mark Spitz.”

“I think the biggest things I am looking forward to is getting new faces into the sport. Getting kids who could be afraid of water to feel comfortable in the pool.”

“My goal is one Olympic gold medal. Not many people in this world can say, 'I'm an Olympic gold medalist.'”

“I want to retire how I want to retire - and I have a great opportunity to do that.”

“I've been able to get an excitement back in the water.”

“Any Olympic sport is great to watch.”