Michael Phelps Secretly Married Long-Time Girlfriend Months Ago

U.S. Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps won more than gold medals this summer. He also secretly married former Miss California USA Nicole Johnson.

CBS Baltimore reports the two got hitched on June 13 in Paradise Valley, Arizona, a little more than a month after Johnson gave birth to their son, Boomer. Neither Phelps nor Johnson said a word about the wedding, save for a picture Johnson posted on Instagram the day of the ceremony.

The ceremony took place just months before Phelps competed in the Rio Olympics and returned home the most decorated swimmer of all time with 23 gold medals.

Phelps says this summer was the best time of his life.

"I wouldn't change anything," he said. "This is the best place I've ever been in my life."

However, his life looked very different just two years ago when he suffered from a dramatic identity crisis and suicidal thoughts.

"I thought the world would just be better off without me," Phelps told ESPN. "I figured that was the best thing to do — just end my life."

Phelps says that all changed when Christian friend and NFL star Ray Lewis gave Phelps a copy of Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life.

"It's turned me into believing there is a power greater than myself and there is a purpose for me on this planet … It helped me when I was in a place where I needed the most help," he said.

Phelps was so changed, people started calling him "Preacher Mike."

For Phelps, this summer was about more than just victory in the pool, but becoming a changed man as a husband and father.