Before Kobe Bryant, Even Shaquille O’Neal’s Challenge Rumor Could Not Force Michael Phelps Out of Retirement

The human race is a competitive lot. And naturally, challenges form a significant part of our lives. It is especially so when one is an athlete. And things must have been similar for the most decorated Olympian, Michael Phelps.

However, the swimmer once refused to entertain a rumor involving basketball star Shaquille O’Neal. But in doing so, he rewarded fans with a hilarious tweet.

Michael Phelps did not entertain the supposed rumor

In 2017, a rumor began making the rounds in the sports world. According to it, Shaq refused to accept his previous defeat by Phelps and wanted a rematch. Therefore, fans began to anticipate the swimmer’s return to the sport.

But soon, the Olympian posted on Twitter that left fans disappointed. Although Shaq did not confirm these rumors at any point, the swimmer responded hilariously to these speculations. Tagging the basketball player, Phelps tweeted, “I hear you want to race again??? Any truth to this? Def not coming outta retirement but I’ll def give you a chance to ‘try’ to win.”

The five-time Olympian used the word “again” in the tweet as the former basketball player had challenged the athlete previously and lost. In 2009, O’Neal served as the host and challenger of the reality show “Shaq vs.” The show’s premise had the former basketball player challenging the top athletes in their respective sports.

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The first episode of Season 1 aired on August 18, 2009. And the season’s final episode has fans hooked on the show. It featured the basketball star challenging the most decorated Olympian of all time. The episode aired on September 15 of the same year.

Did O’Neal stand a chance? Who else tried to bring Phelps out of retirement?

In 2009, the swimmer was at the peak of his career. Therefore, there was not much that Shaq could have done to defeat Phelps in his respective sport. All O’Neal could have hoped was the results to be as close as possible, which it was. Moreover, the 7’1″ athlete even defeated the Baltimore Bullet in the first round.

Following this, another decorated basketball player attempted to bring Phelps out of retirement. It was none other than basketball legend Kobe Bryant. The late basketball player tried to coax the Flying Fish to make a comeback during the 2017 Golden Goggles award ceremony.

The athletes were on the stage to present the Female Athlete of the Year Award at the event when Bryant asked Phelps if he would consider competing at a meet “one more time.”

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But once again, the swimmer made it clear that he had no intention to return to competitive swimming.