Phelps celebrates emotional victory with touching family moment
Michael Phelps accepted his record-breaking 20th gold medal, fighting back tears on the winner’s podium in front of a screaming audience in Rio’s Olympic Aquatics Stadium.
The US champion appeared overwhelmed and humbled by his feat, and struggled to contain his emotions before spotting his family in the crowd and breaking into a huge smile.
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Michael Phelps fights back tears on the winner's podium. Photo: Channel 7
Phelps kisses his son Boomer after his historic win. Photo: 7 News
Phelps greeted his two biggest fans – his mother and his partner – before paying special attention to his smallest fan, his 3-month-old son Boomer.
The world watched on as he kissed both cheeks of his first born, who was being held in the arms of his fiancée Nicole Johnson.
The touching family moment quickly became the feel-good moment of the Olympics, fuelling a social media frenzy:
The best part of the Olympics is easily Boomer Phelps
— caroline laughon (@CarolineLaughon) August 10, 2016
Boomer Phelps should get the Gold Medal for cutest baby
— Andrea (@andreach123) August 10, 2016
I may or may not be headed to bed 45 minutes past my bedtime because I was looking through #BoomerPhelps's Instagram account. Cutest nugget!
— Mina Radman (@minaradman) August 10, 2016
After climbing back down past the mountain of snap-happy paparazzi, Phelps returned to the change rooms to prepare for his next race.
Phelps won his 21st gold medal within half an hour of his 20th win. Photo: AAP
Less than half an hour later, Phelps secured his 21st gold medal with the help of the US 200m freestyle relay team.
His new tally means he has secured more gold medals in the pool than most of the countries competing in the Games.
