Olympic swimming legend Michael Phelps and wife Nicole welcome fourth son

Olympic legend Michael Phelps has welcomed his fourth son with wife Nicole Johnson.

The swimmer, who is the most decorated Olympian of all time as the winner of 28 medals - announced the news on social media on Monday. 

Phelps wrote: “@mrs.nicolephelps and I wanna welcome Nico Michael Phelps to the world.

"We’re so blessed to be given a 4th child. We’re now a family of 6.”

He also confirmed his son was born on January 16.

The couple are already parents to three sons -  Boomer, seven, Beckett, five, and Maverick, four. 

Johnson - a former model and pageant competitor - announced she was pregnant for the fourth time in October 2023 on the day of their seventh wedding anniversary.

She wrote at the time: “For those that are wondering… yes! we're expecting our 4th Phelps in 2024." 

The couple first met in 2007. 

They broke up for two years in 2012, but got back together and announced their engagement in 2015. 

They got married in 2016, holding three separate ceremonies.

Boomer, their eldest, was also born in 2016. 

Phelps retired after the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Their second son was born in 2018.

Phelps has previously opened up about his pride that his sons “talk about their emotions” following his own well documented battle with depression and anxiety. 

He told PEOPLE in 2021: “It gives me a lot of hope. I just want them to be as prepared as they can be."