RIO DE JANEIRO _ Were U.S. swimmers and Olympic Village roommates Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps just joking or is there a real possibility that Phelps will continue to swim after Rio?
At the news conference for U.S. swimming Wednesday where Phelps was announced as the flag bearer for Friday's opening ceremony, Lochte had a little fun, predicting Phelps would not, in fact, conclude his career after these Olympics.
Lochte said the same after the 2012 Games in London, and he was right that time.
Phelps picked up the same thread, saying his 3-month-old son, Boomer, would be in Rio to watch him in his "potential" last Olympics. He joked that he only said it to prevent media members from beating up on him if he unexpectedly changes his mind about the 2020 games in Tokyo.
"I know I'm not," the 31-year-old Phelps said of swimming past Rio.
But with Phelps, who always keeps the media guessing, who knows?
