Michael Phelps, history's greatest Olympian, has spoken out about life after swimming following his retirement from the sport.

Speaking to reporters, he said: "I will probably be able to find out more about myself not being a swimmer pretty soon. Swimming has been part of my life for so long.

"Knowing that I am starting the next chapter in my life, the second chapter in my life, it's going to be cool finding the Michael Phelps as a person."

First the former Olympian has to find a place for his 18 gold, two bronze and two silver medals. He said: "I'm not sure what I am going to do with them, but I do want to be able to look at all of them, and just think about all the hard work it took to get there, and just remember everything."

Phelps dismissed the opinion of some commentators that leaving the sport marked the end of an era, and that his record would never be bettered: "I think records are always made to be broken. I know that. There is somebody who I am sure is coming up, or had a dream the same way that I had a dream when I was a kid and they are going to try and achieve that.

"It is really going to be fun for me, I can't say that enough, just being on the other side of the sport and being able to watch, it is something that is going to be a lot more relaxing and it will be exciting."