Phelps Plans To Coach In Arizona, But Says Baltimore Will Always Be Home

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- He went, he conquered and he made some (more) history along the way.

Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time, has dominated the sport of swimming and the Olympic games for 12 years.

He now says the games in Rio -- where Team U.S.A. dominated in the pool -- mark the end of one life and the beginning of something new.

After collecting 23 gold medals, three silvers and two bronzes over 12 years during four Olympic games.

"This is what I wanted to finish my career," he said this weekend. "This is the cherry I wanted to put on top of the cake. This is it. I said before, but you guys can say, this is the last time."

So, the journey that began here in Baltimore ends on a great note, with five fresh gold medals and one silver.

Phelps, his fiancee Nicole Johnson and their three-month-old baby Boomer plan on staying in Arizona for a while, after following Phelps's longtime swim coach Bob Bowman there when he accepted a job at Arizona State University.

Phelps also plans to become a coach there, but he says Baltimore will always be home.

"That is my home, that's where I grew up, that's where I learned how to swim," he said. "I look forward to going back. I look forward to seeing some Ravens games, some Orioles games, going to get some crabs."

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