Michael Phelps stands as a titan in the swimming world. With a staggering 28 Olympic medals, 23 of which are gold, he is the most decorated Olympian of all time. Phelps has set numerous records that may remain unbroken for years to come. He also became the first American male swimmer to qualify for five Olympic Games in 2016.

Phelps’ legacy demonstrates his innate talent for swimming. Throughout his career, he consistently pushed boundaries and shattered records. Beyond his awe-inspiring achievements, fans often wonder: Where does Phelps keep his medals? In an appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”, DeGeneres talks about his journey post his return from the Rio Olympics. “What do you do with all those medals?” Ellen then asks.

Phelps then responds, “It’s actually wild, I have probably seen them all together maybe twice.” He then reveals that he never goes out in public with these. But he had brought one along for show and tell. DeGeneres then asked, “Do they all come in the little boxes, or did you have that made?”

Phelps expresses, “The ones from Rio all come in those boxes, so we get separate boxes for everyone.” He had previously mentioned how he never takes his medals out often. “Are the medals just hidden? Like in a safe, I would hope, or something.” DeGeneres finally asks. Phelps cheekily responds, “They’re in a secret place, where there are probably two people in the world who know where they are.” Phelps and his wife, Nicole, are the only people who know the medals’ whereabouts.

DeGeneres pushes further, “Where?” Fans have always wondered where he stores his mammoth collection. But Phelps hits her back with, “You’re not one of the two people.” Despite not giving away the secret location, his humorous approach to this interview won many hearts. Fans were pleasantly surprised by the reveal of a slightly modest storage approach. But it isn’t as shocking seeing how Phelps has often come across as a grounded individual, despite his dominant legacy in the sport. 

A look into his Olympic Legacy

Michael Phelps retired from the sport in 2016, post his return from Rio. By the end of his career, Phelps had accumulated a collection of 28 Olympic medals after competing in five different Summer Games. At just 15, Phelps was the youngest man on the national team at his first Olympics in Sydney 2000. While he didn’t find himself on the podium, he did come quite close to it. 

In his second run in 2004, Phelps went on to clinch 6 gold medals and 2 bronze medals. This was the start of an era of his dominance in the pool. However, he cemented his GOAT status at the Beijing Summer Games in 2008. Phelps went on to win a record-breaking 8 gold medals, putting an end to Mark Spitz’s 1972 record of seven medals. He did come very close to being stripped of one gold medal. But after careful consideration, he got to keep it along with the record. 

He continued climbing up the ranks in London in 2012 and added 4 gold and 2 silvers to his ever-growing collection. His final run was at the 2016 Rio Games where Phelps earned the title of the most decorated Olympian and clinched 5 gold and 1 silver medal. This completed his mammoth collection of 28 Olympic medals. Apart from the medals, Phelps has also won several World Championship titles. His multiple world records still stand strong to this date.

Michael Phelps’ has had an illustrious journey – from being the youngest swimmer to being a world-record Olympian. Fans might still be curious about where he keeps his medals, but how he earned them is nothing short of remarkable. His legacy continues to inspire upcoming swimmers, but such instances also show another side of Phelps. The duality of Phelps’ appeal still has fans raving about him. He will always be the crème de la crème of the swimming world, and at his core, he will also forever be remembered for being incredibly down-to-earth.