“Michael Jordan has been an inspiration to me throughout my whole career,” Phelps said. “What he did to the sport of basketball is what I’ve always wanted to do in the sport of swimming. No. 23 is a special number, and will always be a special number. It always has been, and now it is even more special.”
Despite a sensational Games that included five gold medals and one silver, Phelps has repeatedly said he is retiring and will not add to his medal count in Tokyo in 2020.