Michael Phelps opens door – slightly – to another comeback

United States’ Michael Phelps prepares a swimming training session at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016.

As the country’s most successful Olympic athlete with 22 medals – 18 of them gold – he is an obvious choice for the honor – which was decided by a vote from his fellow athletes – given this is believed to be his final Olympics.

“I’m honored to be chosen, proud to represent the US, and humbled by the significance of carrying the flag and all it stands for”, Phelps said.

As a 15-year-old, his handlers thought it best that he not take part even though he qualified in only one event at the 2000 Sydney Games.

He is the second USA swimmer to carry the flag at an opening ceremony, after Gary Hall in 1976. At the 2008 Beijing games, Phelps won an Olympic-record eight gold medals.

And Phelps will certainly be making a statement during the ceremony as he’ll be sporting the first-ever illuminated Team USA flag bearer jacket, designed by Ralph Lauren. Four years later, he wanted to win gold.

As USA Today is reporting in their latest opinion piece, Michael Phelps has made the news for good and bad reasons. You’d expect nothing less from a team with such powerhouses as Simone Biles and the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team, but in case you needed further proof, we’ve got the first look at the flagbearer’s jacket – and it’s going to light up the night.

“I kind of want to steal that jacket, ” said Ryan Lochte, who is Phelps roommate in the Olympic village. Team USA is still keeping quiet about the swimmers that will comprise its relay teams but Phelps will likely be included in at least one relay race.

The most decorated Olympian of all time made the stunning claim when asked about the Russian doping controversy ahead of the Rio Games.

The question was about Michael Phelps’s newborn son Boomer, a subject that animates him more than any other these days, but the answer took a sharp turn and arrived with a thwack, like an errant hand slamming against a hard plastic lane line. If he could change the travel, “I would like to have the honor to light it”, he said.

“I’ll be able to turn the page and say I was able to finish my career the way I wanted”, he said.