Michael Phelps Plays It Coy About Girlfriend

Michael Phelps definitely isn't complaining about being considered an eligible bachelor.

"It feels pretty cool," Phelps, 23, told PEOPLE in an exclusive interview at Walt Disney World's America's Homecoming Parade in Orlando on Friday. "I don't feel any different. I'm just having fun with this."

But when it comes to recent rumors linking him to Nicole Johnson, a former Miss California USA runner up, he's remaining coy. "I never said I have a girlfriend, and I never said I don't have a girlfriend," said Phelps. "My public and private life are separate. I keep my private life to myself."

Johnson, who spoke to PEOPLE recently, wouldn't confirm a courtship but says, "we're good friends."

The 14-time Olympic gold medalist did open up about his strangest encounter with female fans. He described a girl in the crowd at the Disney parade who held up a neon green sign that said "Congratulations, Michael" on one side and "Call me" with her phone number on the other. "I started laughing," says Phelps.

Keep reading People's interview

PLUS:

Phelps previously denied dating Amanda Beard

Phelps was spotting making out with Stephanie Rice

AND:
Phelps will host Saturday Night Live

He will appear on Oprah

Comments

[Eric8869]

The fact is that if Michael Phelps IS gay then he could do so much better for society by being out DURING the Olympics. (not after like Louganis and others) Gay teenagers still commit suicide every day for being gay - what a great role model he could be.

I know it's heresey to say in America but sometimes money isn't the most important thing.

[xcrunner77]

Michael Phelps is really cute. Enough of these comments that he is not, or we need a cuter swimmer, etc.

Who knows or cares if he's gay? If he is, let him come out with that after he rakes in his millions. It's not his fault that the world is so homophobic that all those opportunities would dry up in two seconds if he said, "no, but I like that hot Aussie diver dude."

If he's straight, then I love him for having fun with the media, poking their endless speculation back in their eyes. Don't let em get you, Michael. Make em work for their paychecks! (Better yet, follow in the tracks of celebrities who sell their wedding photos for millions. Offer to give an exclusive picture of you and whoever you're dating to one magazine for several million. That'll teach em.)

[gibsontx5]

I really don't care who he is dating or if he shares an apartment with a giant cucumber. His swimming is amazing to watch, and I hope to see him again in London in 2012.

[tlgeiger62]

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[Triangle1]

If he just said "I have a girlfriend, but I want to keep it private," the rumors would stop. No one cares that gold medalist diver Greg Louganis is gay. He's just doing everything he can to increase speculation. When you win that many gold medals, you can be and do whatever you want. What are they going to do? Take back your medals and send you to straight camp? http://mespace.wordpress.com

[LiberalBuzz]

The guy is a great swimmer and of that there is no doubt, but boy oh boy he's just not real camera friendly is he?

And who really cares if he is gay.

In fact he could do the whole world a favor IF he is gay to come out.

BUT then again, there are millions of dollars of endorsements to grab first.

[aristippe]

he's so gay.

[moyo78]

amen to that, phelps is so gay. but the media will not stop asking about a girlfriend, he might just
have to get him one.

[raker]

Phelps is lucky this is America and Disney didn't replace him with a cuter swimmer.

[Eric8869]

China would have

[unclesmedley]

I think this guy is a lot smarter than he's letting on, and that's a great strategy to keep his personal business private. He just, like, talks sorts like a, y'know, slow talking guy, who's not really that, like, bright. The fact is that that sort of persona gets space. He comes and goes as he pleases, and at the end of the day, he shrewdly gets on with his private life. Smart.

[SouthJerseySteve]

How nice of American Media to want to tear down Michael Phelps! Who cares who he's dating, or not dating! For goodness sakes, he won 8 Olympic gold metals! Whoever can do that, should speak up, the rest of us should just shut up and let him enjoy the fame!

[buckbuck11]

It's nice to see Michael Phelps enjoy his moment in the sun. He seems really well grounded and a genuinely nice guy. So often those who are launched into the spotlight are morally bankrupt thugs or self-centered airheads and offer no redeeming value worthy of emulation. Congratulations to Mr. Phelps.

[hypnotoad72]

I agree.

Unfortunately, I remember other celebrities saying the same thing. Ricky Martin comes to mind. People change over time. Messer Martin took 8 years to realize one gets more attention and money by being ribald than it does to be dignified. There's a bumper sticker, and while it doesn't fully apply, it's mostly true: "Well behaved women rarely make history." Ricky is obviously a man, but I've yet to see a sticker reading "Well behaved men rarely make history" so I had to use the closest alternative available.

Let me know when somebody does release a sticker reading "Well behaved men seldom make history". Or is that aphorism taken for granted throughout human nature because, as the stereotype goes, men are NEVER well behaved?

[unclesmedley]

Michael Phelps as Ricky Martin? Really? I never made that connection. How about Michael Phelps as Coolio, or maybe Raul Castro? or, how about Gary Coleman? Seriously, if you must draw analogies, try to make them at least marginally plausible. Wait... I've got it... Michael Phelps as Sting! or maybe Prince...! It totally makes sense...dont'cha think...?