Michael Phelps 'Sorry' After Bong Photo

Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps has acknowledged "regrettable" behavior and "bad judgment" after he was depicted in a photo using a bong.

In a statement released to "The Insider," the swimmer -- who won a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Games -- conceded the authenticity of the exclusive picture published Sunday by the tabloid News of the World. The photo depicted Phelps smoking from a water pipe, commonly referred to as a bong, which is frequently used to smoke marijuana.

Phelps said: "I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment. I'm 23 years old and despite the successes I've had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again."

Published 2/1/09 by the Insider

Comments (272)

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  • still love ya!
    Anonymous 8/22/09 Reply
  • what the hell. He made a mistake its not like you havent ever smoked or drinked when you were his age. So give him a ing break
    Anonymous 4/30/09 Reply
  • Haha, this is ing hilarious. It's just marijuana, guys. It seriously shouldn't even be illegal. People really need to shake off their conservativeness just a little. He shouldn't be ing crucified for smoking a little pot.
    Anonymous 4/27/09 Reply
  • leave him the alone. weed is not bad you ing crazy ass bastards.
    Anonymous 4/7/09 Reply
  • This is bull. This poor kid has probably trained hard for 2 years straight, finally it's down time, and he takes a hit of some herbal remedy to chill out.

    I think the guy deserves to relax and unwind on something that is less harmful than asprin....
    Anonymous 3/16/09 Reply
    • Michael Phelps is a dope fiend! A pot head! A reefer junky! HIGH FIVE! this is mad dumb. little fish boy likes to toke nugs? no harm in that. how come no one said anything about lance armstrongs acid trip on youtube? that guy was ed and then he blew...
      Anonymous 3/27/09
  • don't swim and win
    smoke and fly!
    Anonymous 3/14/09 Reply
  • Keep on hitting kid!

    JAH RASTAFARI
    Anonymous 3/14/09 Reply
  • people mess up, at least he's not like the other half of people out there, who use and sell drugs everyday, he know he messed up and he admitted to it get over it.
    Anonymous 3/13/09 Reply
  • you know what, no one is perfect. he is getting all this crap, for making a mistake but yet the people who does this daily isnt getting anything, get over it.
    Anonymous 3/13/09 Reply
  • yeaaaaa every1 can smoke a little weed sometimes i was actualy afraid of tellin my sister and then i ended up gettin wrecked with her andher boyfriend
    Anonymous 3/9/09 Reply
  • Michael Phelps is the greatest swimmer ever. Email me at michaelphelps@michaelphelssmokesweed.com for a chance to win cool prizes or goto my website at www.michaelphelpssmokesweed.com
    Anonymous 3/7/09 Reply
  • Anonymous 3/7/09 Reply
  • come on give him a break really was someone really in need of money to do such a stupid thing come one everyone does it in there life
    Anonymous 3/3/09 Reply
  • HAHAHA!!!! HATERS!!! YA SEE PEOPLE? WEED IS NOT BAD. AN EIGHT TIME OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST GETS HIGH AND IS STILL A IN PITT AT WHAT HE DOES... SO YOU WEED HATERS
    Anonymous 3/2/09 Reply
    • you are right man
      Anonymous 3/14/09
  • atleast he was using a nice piece of glass, and not some can pipe

    lol lesson kids... win a bunch of olympic medals, and you get to smoke out of roor's finest
    Anonymous 3/2/09 Reply