--- title: Rio 2016 Olympics: Michael Phelps Son Sleeps Video description: While Michael Phelps made Olympic history on Sunday night, one fan was not impressed with his 19th gold medal — his son Boomer. canonical: https://time.com/4443261/rio-2016-olympics-michael-phelps-son/ author: Cady Lang article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-08-08T16:03:48.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-06T09:45:44.906Z og:title: Michael Phelps' Son Slept While He Made Olympic History og:description: Boomer Phelps is not impressed og:url: https://time.com/4443261/rio-2016-olympics-michael-phelps-son/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8ef186749e5a1beb/6988a18df887dc95b7e96fee/michael-phelps-son-boomer-sleeps-olympics-2016.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2000 og:image:height: 1125 og:image:alt: Swimming - Olympics: Day 2 og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Michael Phelps' Son Slept While He Made Olympic History twitter:description: Boomer Phelps is not impressed twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8ef186749e5a1beb/6988a18df887dc95b7e96fee/michael-phelps-son-boomer-sleeps-olympics-2016.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Michael Phelps' Baby Is Not Impressed By His 19th Olympic Gold Medal > Sponsored content. 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Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=5f2a21c5-9fbe-47fe-b760-1c90a9ca8ccb&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: WATCH: Baby Boomer Cheers on Dad Michael Phelps as He Swims to His First Gold Medal in Rio [Watch (HLS stream): WATCH: Baby Boomer Cheers on Dad Michael Phelps as He Swims to His First Gold Medal in Rio](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/WWUVeajM.m3u8) (1:16)  _Published 2016-08-08. Phelps competed with his fellow Team USA swimmers Nathan Adrian, Ryan Held and more in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay_  by [Cady Lang](https://time.com/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Aug 8, 2016 4:03 PM UTC  by [Cady Lang](https://time.com/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Aug 8, 2016 4:03 PM UTC While [Michael Phelps](http://time.com/4436506/michael-phelps-usa-flag-bearer-rio-olympics/) earned his [19th Olympic gold medal (and 23rd overall Olympic award)](http://time.com/4442634/ledecky-gold-world-record-rio-2016-olympics/) in Rio on Sunday night for the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay, there was one fan who was less than impressed with this record feat: [his son Boomer](http://time.com/4396589/michael-phelps-son-boomer-swimming/). As Phelps, [the world’s most decorated Olympic athlete](http://time.com/4388909/michael-phelps-qualifies-swimming-rio-olympics-record/), received his gold medal, he looked into the stands and saw his three-month-old son sound asleep in the arms of his fiancee Nicole Johnson. The infant later woke up, but still seemed nonplussed by the fanfare and festivities of the Olympics (keep in mind, this is a [baby who has an Instagram account with over 100k followers](http://time.com/4390479/michael-phelps-baby-instagram-olympics/).) Someone get Boomer Phelps an Olympic gold medal for being the most level-headed baby of them all. Watch above. > [](https://twitter.com/iwakages/status/762434276176465920) ## Transcript Our favorite Olympian Michael Phelps took home his first gold medal in Rio, surprising everyone by making his Rio debut a little ahead of schedule in the 4 by 100 meter freestyle relay. Phelps wasn't set to compete until the men's 200 meter butterfly heats on Monday but just hours before the 4 by 100 relay it was announced that Phelps would compete. The freestyle relay team included Michael Phelps, Nathan Adrien, Ryan [ UNKNOWN ] and Caleb [ UNKNOWN ] After the big win, Phelps posted a heart warming message to his family and fans on Instagram saying this, the moment when I got to see my amazing family in the stands, Boomer Phelps was sound asleep, ha ha, love you guys so much and thank you for all your support. Now Phelps had quite the cheering section during the four by 100 meter free style race His mom Deborah Phelps was in the stands with Phelps' partner Nicole Johnson and their son Boomer. Earlier on Sunday, this picture was posted on Boomer's Instagram, saying I'm ready to see some more fast swimming. Go get daddy, go get USA. Boomer followed up with a post- race game photo and this time he was accompanied by his mommy, saying thanks for sharing your gold medal with me dad. I love you and can't wait til I get to see you. He's amazing, posting selfies, he's amazing at his typing and his, that kid is social media savvy as it gets. 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