At a Glance
- Michael Phelps credits daily 5 p.m. dinners with curbing his depression
- The family of six never hides emotions from the boys
- Sons Boomer, 9, Beckett, 7, Maverick, 6, and Nico, 2, join dad at major events
- Why it matters: The most decorated Olympian shows how structure and openness protect mental health
Michael Phelps, holder of 28 Olympic medals, balances fame with fatherhood, raising four sons-Boomer, 9, Beckett, 7, Maverick, 6, and baby Nico, born January 16, 2024-with wife Nicole Johnson. The swimmer told News Of Los Angeles in 2021 that rigid family rituals, especially their unfailing 5 p.m. dinner, anchor his mental health.
Dinner at 5: The Ritual That Grounds a Champion
“As a kid, I always wanted to have dinner as a family but with my parents separated, that didn’t happen often,” Michael told News Of Los Angeles. “I love how we have dinner every night together at the same exact time.”
That consistency, he says, curbs the effects of depression. When tough days leave him unable to get out of bed, the children either “try to be near him or they’ll question what he’s experiencing,” Nicole explained. The couple answer plainly: “Daddy or mommy is having a moment and we need to either give them space or ask if they want a hug.”
The boys already mirror the openness. “They talk about their emotions,” Michael said. “It gives me a lot of hope. I just want them to be as prepared as they can be.”
Boomer Robert Phelps, 9
Born May 5, 2016, Boomer watched his dad win five gold and one silver medal at the Rio Olympics when he was only 3 months old, red-white-and-blue headphones shielding his ears. After the Games Michael retired, declaring, “I’m leaving here and going home, and it’s going to be all about Boomer.”
The name choice was deliberate. On The Tonight Show Michael said, “We didn’t want, like, a normal name…once we picked that, we were like, ‘Yeah.’ He’s definitely gonna be the cool kid.” Boomer’s Instagram following quickly topped 500,000.
At 7 months he served as ring bearer at his parents’ wedding, carrying the rings in a tiny net bag tied to his Burberry outfit. Today, Boomer and Michael bond over cooking and card games. In June 2023 the family celebrated his kindergarten graduation with “Mud Mania,” a messy school tradition.
Beckett Richard Phelps, 7
Nicole announced her second pregnancy in August 2017; Beckett arrived February 12, 2018. At 11 weeks he appeared in his first ad campaign, modeling Huggies Little Swimmers. Michael said the partnership let the family “enjoy the water as a family of four” and create a “#WaterPlaybook for babies.”
During the pandemic Beckett spent hours outside. “They ride their bikes, we have a little dirt track we built in the front of the house,” Michael told News Of Los Angeles. Christmas lights mesmerized him-“his face lights up so much, and it’s the most precious smile in the world,” his dad said.
Maverick Nicholas Phelps, 6
Maverick was born September 9, 2019, making the Phelps family a group of five. Nicole, the lone female, embraces the role; Michael recalled Boomer telling her, “Mommy, you’re the girl in our house,” prompting laughter and the motto “she’s the queen.”
All three older boys attended Michael’s 2022 induction into the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame, dressed in matching black suits and white sneakers. That December the foursome wore elf costumes-green petticoats and yellow tights-for Christmas photos Nicole posted with the caption “I love all my elves.”
Nico Michael Phelps, 2
The couple revealed baby number four in October 2023 on their seventh wedding anniversary, posting a photo of Nicole’s baby bump. Nico’s January 16, 2024 birth completed the family of six. “We’re so blessed to be given a 4th child,” they wrote.
Nico already has passport stamps: he accompanied his parents to the 2024 Paris Olympics, sporting a beret in photos Michael captioned “Baby’s first rave.”
Key Takeaways
- A fixed daily ritual-dinner at 5-provides stability for an athlete who once craved it
- Open emotional dialogue teaches the boys resilience and empathy
- Each son has shared milestones publicly, from Olympic stands to Hall of Fame inductions
- The Phelps family blends ordinary traditions (bike tracks, elf costumes) with extraordinary arenas (Olympic pools, induction ceremonies)
