The one thing that's common to all successful people: They make a habit of doing things that unsuccessful people don't like to do.

I always thought, it would be neat to make the Olympic team.

I believe in God; I’m not saying I’m highly religious.

I finished my career the way I wanted to.

I’m so sick of the water.

I don’t like to be second in anything. I was trying, I just wasn’t going anywhere.

If I didn’t swim my best, I’d think about it at school, at dinner, with my friends. It would drive me crazy.

There will be obstacles. There will be doubters. There will be mistakes. But with hard work... THERE ARE NO LIMITS.

If you want to be the best you have to do things that other people aren't willing to do.

You can't put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get.

Every day is different and every day brings something more exciting.

Nobody is going to put a limit on what I'm doing.

I can't remember the last day I didn't train.

If you say "can't" you're restricting what you can do or ever will do.

I feel most at home in the water. I disappear. That's where I belong.

Swimming is more than a once-every-four-years sport. My goal is to bring attention to swimming - to give it some personality.

I won't predict anything historic. But nothing is impossible.

I don't want to be the next Mark Spitz; I want to be the first Michael Phelps

If you're not on your 'A' game in our workouts every day, you're going to get absolutely smoked.