Michael Phelps is a record-setting Olympian and one of the world's most decorated athletes, but he's not done adding awards to his trophy case.
Phelps was named the Associated Press male athlete of the year on Thursday, beating out superstars like LeBron James and Usain Bolt. Phelps received 40 votes from the AP media panel, while James got 37 and Bolt received 23.
''Obviously, it's a big accomplishment,'' Phelps said to the Associated Press. ''There's so many amazing male athletes all over the world and all over our country. To be able to win this is something that just sort of tops off my career.''
Phelps won the award for the second time and joins Carl Lewis as the only other Olympian to be named AP male athlete of the year more than once (Lewis won in 1983 and 1984). Other athletes who have won the award multiple times include Tiger Woods and cyclist Lance Armstrong (four times each), and basketball's Michael Jordan (three times).
Phelps collected six medals, including four gold and two silvers, for swimming events at the London Olympics to become one of the most decorated athletes of all-time. He previously won eight gold medals at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and was awarded the AP male athlete of the year for that performance.
Following the London games, Phelps said he would retire from swimming at age 27. According to the Associated Press, his 18 gold medals and 22 overall medals are more than any other Olympian by a large margin.
''That's what I wanted to do,'' Phelps said. ''Now that it's over, it's something I can look back on and say, 'That was a pretty amazing ride.'''
LeBron James offered the toughest competition to Phelps for the award after winning an NBA championship, MVP award and Olympic gold medal all in the same year.
It hasn't always been perfect for Phelps, including in 2004 when he was arrested for driving under the influence and in 2009 when a photo was published of him smoking marijuana, but all of that is behind him now. He has been a beacon for American athletics and has worked on philanthropic endeavors for his entire career, including the Michael Phelps Foundation.
While competing in London, many thought Phelps would not be able to achieve the success he had in Beijing after opening with a fourth-place finish in the 400-meter individual medley, losing to teammate Ryan Lochte. According to the AP, "It was only the second time that Phelps had not at least finished in the top three of an Olympic race, the first coming way back in 2000 when he was fifth in his only event of the Sydney Games as a 15-year-old."
But Phelps was able to rebound from that performance, beating out Lochte in the 200 individual medley and winning the 100 butterfly as his last race of the games.
''When I'm flying all over the place, I write a lot in my journal,'' Phelps said. ''I kind of relive all the memories, all the moments I had throughout my career. That's pretty special. I've never done that before. It's amazing when you see it all on paper.''
Some have speculated that Phelps could swim again in the Rio Olympics, but for now he is focusing on other things and taking a break from the pool.
''Sure, I could come back in another four years. But why?'' he asked, not waiting for an answer. ''I've done everything I wanted to do. There's no point in coming back.''
Phelps is considered to be one of the best Olympic athletes of all-time and has won numerous yearly awards over his career, including the World Swimmer of the Year Award seven times. He was named Sports Illustrated magazine's Sportsman of the Year after his performance in 2008 and has won over 70 medals in major international competitions.
