Phelps confirms intention to retire: 'It's the beginning of a new journey'

Michael Phelps may have said the same sort of thing in London 2012 when he retired the first time, but the look on the face of the greatest Olympian in history Saturday at Olympic Aquatics Stadium seemed to make it real - this time.

Sincere and suddenly vulnerable inside an athletic venue just moments after winning his record 23rd Olympic gold medal, Phelps confirmed his intention is to retire in an interview with NBC.

"I'm just ready for something different," Phelps said while fighting back tears. "My swimming career might be over, but I have this future ahead of me, and I can just turn the page and start whatever I want.

"It's not the end of a career, it's the beginning of a new journey."

Phelps could feel the weight of the situation as he prepared for the race, and the emotion of the situation nearly overwhelmed him as he walked out for the final time.

''Getting off the bus walking into the pool tonight, I pretty much felt myself starting to cry," Phelps said. "Last time putting on a suit, last time walking out in front of thousands of people representing my country.''

Phelps has said all along that Rio would be his final Olympic competition, but after winning six medals - including five gold - in six competitions, there was a belief he could continue adding on to his record haul at Tokyo 2020, and at the age of 35.

"This is just the cherry on top of the cake I wanted," Phelps said during his post-race press conference. "I couldn't be happier with how things ended."

But the future Phelps touched on is not the rock-star lifestyle he chased when he walked away after London. His future is his newborn son, Boomer, and his fiancee who seem to have finally brought him peace outside the lanes.

Photos courtesy Action Images