Adding to the gene pool: Olympic swimming great Phelps’ joy at first baby

Olympic great Michael Phelps has welcomed the arrival of his first child by sharing a heart-warming photograph on Instagram. The 30-year-old swimmer, the most decorated Olympian of all time, posted the image as he cradled his new son Boomer. Fiancee Nicole Johnson is seen smiling in the background. The 18-time Olympic gold-medallist added that his new baby was “happy and healthy”. The baby’s middle name, Robert, is in honour of his long-time coach, Bob Bowman, who called it “a big surprise”.

Best feeling I have ever felt in my life!

Michael Phelps

Johnson, a former Miss California, and Phelps have announced plans to get married following this summer’s Olympics in Brazil. He has praised her for helping him through his alcohol problems following his arrest for drink-driving in 2014. Phelps retired from swimming after the London 2012 games, where he won six of his 22 Olympic medals, before returning to competition in 2014. But he returned to the pool with plans to compete in his fifth Olympic Games in Rio in August.

michael phelps