LOOK: Michael Phelps poses with 23 gold medals for magazine cover
.@MichaelPhelps poses with all 23 gold medals for the first time on his 12th @SInow cover!https://t.co/v3oe6dA0qh pic.twitter.com/1UlYwnFcqx
— U.S. Olympic Team (@TeamUSA) December 20, 2016
Winning one Olympic gold medal is already an amazing feat in itself, but having 23 of those cool shiny things can just be completely surreal.
Michael Phelps showed the world what 23 gold medals draped around his neck looks like on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila), as he graced Sports Illustrated’s (SI) latest cover.
The famed sports publication also shared on Twitter another snap of the Olympian extending his arms, with a total of 28 medals, including his silver and bronze winnings.
Article continues after this advertisementCaption This: pic.twitter.com/JYNrGjHEG1
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 20, 2016
Heralded as one of the most decorated Olympians of all time, the the 32-year-old American swimmer has become the poster boy of his sport and has set feats never before seen.
In the recently concluded 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Phelps added to his already impressive medal tally with five gold-medal finishes and a silver.
Article continues after this advertisementPhelps also announced his intent to step away from competition, but recent reports said he is not totally closing the door for a comeback.
“If I do get the desire to come back, great,” he was quoted as saying in a SI report earlier this year. “Right now, I just don’t see it.” Khristian Ibarrola