Another Comeback? Why Michael Phelps Has His Eye On 2032 Summer Olympics

By Barry Janoff

May 25, 2017: Having already made one great comeback in his career, Michael Phelps hinted that he might be making another.

But his return to the Olympic spotlight is more for his son than for him.

Phelps is arguably the greatest Olympic athlete of all time, having garnered 23 gold medals and another five sliver and bronze medals in swimming competition.

His son Boomer has no medals — yet — but might now on course to follow in his dad’s footsteps, perhaps for the 2032 Summer Games.

That’s the premise behind a new campaign featuring Phelps, his wife Nichole and their son — who celebrated his first birthday on May 5 — and Huggies, which has put the Phelps family into the swim of things in a multi-media effort for Huggies Little Swimmers.

The effort also supports the Michael Phelps Foundation, which encourages youngsters to swim and promotes safety in the water.

The premise of the effort is that Boomer is in training for the 2032 Olympics (by which time he would be 16) with the aid of his highly accomplished father.

The new alliance was unveiled during a faux press conference, with a lead spot, aptly titled "Training For 2032," finding Phelps, Nichole and Boomer seated at a dais.

"I am very exciting to be here today," Phelps says in the spot. "Huge news: I am training for 2032."

That would mark his second comeback, having retired after the 2012 Summer Games but then returned for the 2016 Olympics.

A reporter asks Phelps, who would be 47 in 2032, "Won’t you be too old?!"

“Not me," he replies. “I’m training Boomer and all the babies around the world to be the best swimmers they can be. It’s never too early to introduce your baby to the water. I’m partnering with Huggies Little Swimmers to inspire parents and babies everywhere to safely engage in more water play."

The campaign will be anchored by a series of humorous videos from Huggies Little Swimmers with the Phelps family “sharing ideas for families to safely play in the water” and encouraging parents to "water them daily,"

People are directed to “share fun water moments” on social media with the hash tag #TrainingFor2032.

According to Giusy Buonfantino, president for Huggies parent company Kimberly-Clark Baby and Child Care North America. "Huggies is excited to be partnering with the Phelps family to offer fun ways for parents to help their babies thrive in the water. Huggies Little Swimmers swimpants are designed specifically for the water so they don't swell, and feature easy open sides for an adjustable fit so babies can focus on fun."

"Huggies is excited to be partnering with the Phelps family to offer fun ways for parents to help their babies thrive in the water."

Meanwhile, back at the press conference, Phelps is speaking to the media but is interrupted by his fidgety son, who ends up in his lap.

"It’s fun, it’s great exercise. And if you start now you’ll never have to . . ." Phelps says, but laughs and forgets his lines because Boomer has taken the cover off the microphone and put it in his mouth. ". . . It’s fun . . .  Let’s not eat that."

A reporter then has a question for Boomer: "Are you looking forward to training with your dad?"

Boomer relies, “Mmmmmm . . ." to which Phelps says, "I hope that’s a yes. Now we have some training to do. Boomer is going to take a nap and then we start training."

"Some of the best memories of my life have been in the water — and none more special than the days I spend swimming with Boomer," Phelps said in a statement. "I'm not teaching Boomer to master the butterfly just yet, but #Trainingfor2032 includes safe water play that helps build comfort and confidence in the water.

"I’m partnering with Huggies Little Swimmers because I want to all babies to be the best swimmers they can be."

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