PHOENIX (Arizona) • Olympic swimming star Michael Phelps, unbeknownst to the world, competed at the Rio de Janeiro Games in August as a married man, having quietly wed Nicole Johnson weeks earlier, court records made public on Thursday showed.
Phelps and former Miss California Johnson, both 31, tied the knot in Paradise Valley, Arizona, on June 13, the Arizona Republic newspaper reported on Wednesday, citing a marriage document the paper published on its website.
According to the record, Phelps' agent Peter Carlisle officiated.
Phelps, a Baltimore native, revealed the couple's engagement in February last year.
According to the newspaper, the former Miss USA contestant posted a photo on Instagram of herself, Phelps and their weeks-old son, Boomer, in casual clothes on the day of the marriage with a caption reading: "Such a memorable night with my lil fambam."
Phelps on Thursday confirmed that he is a married man during a golf session with friends, reported the Baltimore Sun.
As recently as this week, he continued to deny that he was already married.
"You guys probably already saw the article that was posted (about the marriage)," he said.
"I've been married for a while, couple months. I had to keep it secret from y'all. I had to keep it hush-hush from you guys.
"Nicole and I are married. We are officially married."
Shortly after their marriage, Phelps competed in Rio, where he won five of his 23 Olympic golds in his career.
The most decorated athlete in Olympic history, with 28 medals, announced his retirement in Rio.
REUTERS
