Phelps: Baltimore Will Always Be Home
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- He went to Rio de Janerio, he conquered and made some history along the way.
Baltimore's own Michael Phelps has dominated the sport of swimming and the Olympic games for the past 12 years. After winning his final race in Rio, Saturday night's men's 4x100 meter medley relay, Phelps said these games mark the end of one life and the beginning of something new.
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After collecting 23 Olympic gold medals, and 28 total medals, Phelps said he's accomplished all the goals he set out to fulfill when he burst onto the international stage.
"This is what I wanted to finish my career," he said. "This is the cherry I wanted to put on top of the cake. This is it. I said it before, but you guys can say, this is the last time."
A Baltimore native, Phelps has long been the hometown hero and he has never forgotten where it all started.
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"That is my home, that's where I grew up, that's where I learned how to swim," said Phelps. "I look forward to going back, I look forward to seeing some Ravens game, some Orioles games, (and) going to get some crabs."
While Phelps said Rio was his final Olympics competition, he noted it's less of a goodbye and more of a "See you soon."
"I am done competing, but by no means does this mean it's the end of my career. It's the start of something new."
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Phelps went on to say that he, fiancee Nicole and their son Boomer plan on staying in Arizona for the next couple of years. But, he said, he will always call Baltimore home.