Michael Phelps appeared a world away from his days in neoprene shorts as he arrived in Sydney on Tuesday ahead of a major conference.
The 40-year-old swimmer, the most decorated Olympian of all time with 28 medals including 23 golds, was headlining the World Business Forum, alongside thought leaders from around the world.
Phelps was photographed walking through the streets on his way to the talks and appears to have grown his hair out long. The American swimming legend, who is also an avid golfer, pulled his locks back into a bun.
Remembered by many for sporting a skin-tight pair of neoprene shorts at the Olympics, he was seen today wearing a suave white patterned shirt, complete with navy trousers and a jacket, as he walked into the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre for the talks.
He was joined by the likes of US scholar Amy Edmondson and Guy Kawasaki, an American marketing specialist.
It is unclear at present what topics he covered during the meeting, but some took to social media to heap praise on the US athlete.
‘Session four at the World Business Forum in Sydney, listening to Michael Phelps! Dead set legend,’ one wrote on X.
Known as the Flying Fish, the Baltimore-born swimmer retired following the 2016 Olympic Games, having made a sensational comeback after initially hanging up his goggles following the London 2012 Games.
After his swimming career, he went on to establish the Michael Phelps Foundation, which aims to support and empower young people to feel confident and safe in the water.
Phelps was once the youngest swimmer ever to be selected to represent the United States at the Olympics, competing in the 2000 Games at the mere age of 15.
He has since gone on to accumulate a net worth which is believed to be over A$150million dollars having worked with global brands like Under Armour, Omega and Beats by Dre.
However, he leads a largely normal life in Arizona, US, with his wife Nicole and his three sons, Boomer, Becket and Maverick.
The Olympian is also a mental health advocate and has previously urged others to seek help and speak up if they are experiencing mental health problems.
‘As an athlete, I can say I’ve seen other athletes as well who struggle with depression or anxiety like I do,’ he told Fortune back in 2024.
‘We just spiral because that’s just what we’ve done throughout our career, right?’
‘As a male athlete, I thought opening up would be a sign of weakness and I would be giving my competitors an extra edge.
‘I probably could’ve won more gold medals being someone who is super good at compartmentalising… but in reality, at any given moment the volcano could erupt.’
He admitted speaking about his mental health problems was challenging at first but he would later overcome that fear.
‘I was scared as can be to [open up] for two decades and now it’s almost like you can’t get me to stop. If I’m going through a tough time, it’s word vomit,’ he explained, recounting his own experiences.
He urged others to speak to their friends and open up about their issues, while also urging others to try therapy.
‘If you are wary or nervous about trying therapy for the first time, I was the same way. Try it. Try it once, please,’ he said.
Earlier this year, Phelps also hit out at USA Swimming in an impassioned social media post, claiming the organisation needed to change, citing that there had been a decline in the team’s performance while also scrutinising the team’s leadership.
It came after America slumped to winning 44 per cent of the medals they competed for in the 2024 Paris Games – their lowest tally since 1988.
He even went on to tell the organisation that he was ready and willing to help.
‘My door is open and there is work to be done,’ Phelps wrote.
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