Rodgers Forge native and Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps announced early Sunday morning on Instagram that he and longtime girlfriend, former Miss California Nicole Johnson, are engaged.
Fellow swimmer, and Bob Bowman-coached, Allison Schmitt snapped a photo of the happy couple, who have been off and on since 2007, in the snow right after the proposal.
“She said yes!” Phelps caption the photo. “I’m gonna be a Mrs.,” Johnson said on her own page. “Cannot be more excited for the soon to be Mr. and Mrs. Phelps,” Schmitt chimed in. Both Phelps’ sister, Hilary, and mom, Debbie, commented on social media to share their well wishes.
The proposal took place in Colorado and the happy couple, along with Schmitt and Johnson’s family, celebrated the next day with brunch in Colorado Springs.
Bowman announced earlier this month that Phelps plans to return to the competition this April, after a six-month suspension following a DUI arrest. The swimmer has yet to officially confirm if he will make a run for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Back when we profiled Phelps in 2012, we asked him about the possibility of starting a family one day.
“I hope that I am lucky enough to get married one day and have children,” he said. “I really enjoy kids—I’m a kid at heart myself. Right now, I’m enjoying the time I have with my family. There will be plenty of time for starting my own family down the road.”
Looks like the time is now. Congrats to the happy couple!