Phelps Vows To Not Drink Until After Olympic Games In Rio
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The world swimming championships are underway in Russia, but swimming phenom Michael Phelps is not there. It's part of his punishment after a DUI arrest in September. Now the most decorated Olympic athlete ever makes a vow as he works towards the Rio Olympics.
Meghan McCorkell has more on his promise.
Michael Phelps says he hasn't had a drop of alcohol since his DUI arrest, and says he doesn't plan to until after the Rio Olympics--if at all.
He has more medals than any Olympic athlete, but Michael Phelps is not with Team USA at the swimming world championships.
USA Swimming banned him from the worlds after his DUI arrest in September.
"I get to watch tomorrow, and it's going to be frustrating because I want to swim," Phelps said.
Now in his quest to get back on the medal stand, Phelps has vowed not to drink alcohol until after the Rio games.
"If I can kind of get back to where I was where it didn't matter who was in the pool and it didn't matter who I was racing, as long as I raced myself and I pushed myself as hard as I could," he said.
Phelps has gone to rehab and joined Alcoholics Anonymous.
He tells the Associated Press: "Are there days I'm sitting on the golf course or sitting on my roof and would like to have a beer? Yeah. But I have a year left in my career. If I really want it bad enough, I will make that sacrifice."
But one addiction specialist says he isn't worried about Phelps when he's in the pool.
"I'm not worried about Michael Phelps during training, I'm worried about Michael Phelps after training," said addiction specialist Mike Gimbel.
Gimbel says Phelps needs to admit he has a lifelong problem.
"He truly is an alcoholic. You don't get two DWIs and you don't go through what he went through without having a serious issue with alcohol," he said.
He says if Phelps continues counseling and stays away from alcohol, he'll be back on top.
This week, Phelps is competing at national championships in Texas. His first swim is Friday.
Phelps was sentenced to 18 months probation for his DUI arrest. It's his second DUI in ten years.
