Quotes from Michael Phelps

I try to separate my personal life from swimming.

I live a pretty conservative life, so I probably really haven't done anything crazy.

I like to just think of myself as a normal person who just has a passion, has a goal and a dream and goes out and does it. And that's really how I've always lived my life.

I want to retire how I want to retire - and I have a great opportunity to do that.

I think sometimes I guess you see records, say you want to get there and use that as motivation. In a way, it's kind of cool if there is a possibility to rewrite history and be up there with the greats of Olympic history.

I am 26 and, and I don't recover as fast as I have in the past.

I want to go to the World Cup. I want to go to the Masters. I want to go... anywhere.

[Phelps] firmly denies that he takes drugs, suggesting that the notorious photo of him smoking from a bong was a one-time lapse of judgment.

I used to always go to church on holidays, but I don't go much any more.

Not having to travel and being able to settle in has helped me in training life and school life. I've learned to get a grip and take care of myself.

I'm so sick of the water.

Yeah, my friends call me Mike, Michael or just my last name.

I can't remember the last day I didn't train.

I love to race the best people in the world and the fastest people in the world.

I think with practice, you can being whatever you want to be, and with a goal you can go in any direction that you want to go in.

I think to be - for me to be an American is - you know, it's one of the greatest things in the world for - you know, for me just because I've been able to grow up with everything. The freedom. You know, in my eyes this is the greatest country in the world.

I want to be able to look back and say, 'I've done everything I can, and I was successful.' I don't want to look back and say I should have done this or that. I'd like to change things for the younger generation of swimmers coming along.

I got a Cadillac Escalade. Put some rims on it, threw a couple TV's in there, and installed a system. I stuck my Xbox in there. I had to go for it.

When I'm focused, there is not one single thing, person, anything that can stand in the way of my doing something. There is not. If I want something bad enough, I feel I'm gonna get there.

I know it won't be eight medals again. If you want to compare me to that, that's your decision, not mine. I'm going out there to try to accomplish the things that I have in my mind and in my heart.

I consider myself normal. I've spent 20 years in the pool. I consider that something that's normal.

Every sponsor I've had has been something that fit my lifestyle, fit my personality.

You can't put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get.

I won't predict anything historic. But nothing is impossible.