Posted Nov 24th 2009 7:13PM by TMZ Staff
Just days after Nicole Johnson was crowned Miss California USA 2010 -- she's already found a way to get her name in the news ... uncovering a secret relationship with Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps.

TMZ spoke with Johnson who said, "Now that it is after the fact, I will admit that we were together. We agreed to keep this private because it was the only thing that he could keep private ... we remain close friends."
Johnson claims the two dated for just over a year between 2007 and 2008.
Phelps was rumored to have dated the previous Miss California, Carrie Prejean -- so far, no cell phone video to back that up.
Filed under: Hook-Ups, Talk Sports, Michael Phelps, Pageantry, Exclusives
Tags: carrie prejean, CarriePrejean, michael phelps, MichaelPhelps, miss california, MissCalifornia, nicole johnson, NicoleJohnson
Posted Nov 23rd 2009 8:33AM by TMZ Staff
There is definitely a Michael Phelps who owes $20,000 to the State of California ... problem is, he's not the same Michael Phelps who competed in the Olympics.
As for the real Phelps, he's in excellent tax standing in the Golden state.
Now, we're off to buy a ton of Speedos ... and Omega watches ... and PowerBars ...
Filed under: Michael Phelps
Tags: Micheal phelps, MichealPhelps, olympics, speedos
Posted Aug 17th 2009 4:00PM by TMZ Staff
If you haven't had enough of the Michael Phelps car crash, now the Baltmore PD has released an action packed drawing for your enjoyment ... complete with directional arrows!

The diagram shows Phelps' car (left) striking an Accord (right) that blew through a red light at the intersection of Calvert and Biddle Street. Both cars then struck a parked car on the side of the road, which in turn struck a fourth car parked in front of it. The Accord also struck a U.S. Postal mailbox after careening off Phelps' Cadillac Escalade.
Phelps admitted to drinking a beer about two hours before the accident, but cops ruled out alcohol as a factor in the crash. The report says Phelps "did not show any signs of fatigue or alcohol use ... there was no odor of alcoholic beverage about his person."


Filed under: Michael Phelps
Tags: accord, balitmore, cadillac escalade, CadillacEscalade, car, crash, gold medals, GoldMedals, intersection, michael phelps, MichaelPhelps, olympian, police, report
Posted Aug 16th 2009 2:10AM by TMZ Staff
Michael Phelps may not have been at fault for his car accident this week, but he wasn't exactly squeaky clean, either.
Phelps will be cited for driving with an expired license, which was from Michigan, the NY Post is reporting. Phelps will have to appear before a judge, though no date has been set so far.
Phelps also admitted to police he had a beer about an hour before the crash. He was not given a Breathalyzer test on scene.
Phelps was involved in a two-car accident in Baltimore on Thursday. It was ruled the other driver ran a red light, causing the wreck.
Filed under: Michael Phelps
Tags: baltimore, beer, car accident, CarAccident, crash, drivers license, DriversLicense, license, maryland, michael phelps, MichaelPhelps, wreck
Posted Aug 14th 2009 2:15PM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has obtained this photo of Michael Phelps at the scene of his car crash last night -- where judging by his jersey, it appears he was supporting his hometown Baltimore Ravens earlier in the evening.

Cops say Phelps -- who was wearing the jersey of defensive superstar Ed Reed -- was not at fault for the accident. The Ravens beat the Washington Redskins at their pre-season home opener around 7:30 PM. The accident occurred around 9:00 PM.
A police spokesman tells TMZ a Honda ran a red light and struck Phelps' Cadillac Escalade, before bouncing off and hitting a parked car.
Law enforcement also says Phelps -- who was busted for DUI back in 2004 -- was definitely not drunk this time.
The police spokesman told us "If he was impaired, you can bet your bottom dollar he would've been taken in. We don't tolerate that."
WJZ13 shot footage of Phelps inside an ambulance giving his official statement to police -- we're told he was "very respectful of the process."
Filed under: Talk Sports, Michael Phelps, Exclusives
Tags: accident, car crash, CarCrash, michael phelps, MichaelPhelps, photo
Posted Aug 13th 2009 10:42PM by TMZ Staff
UPDATE: Cops tell TMZ alcohol was NOT a factor in the crash. We're told cops interviewed Phelps after the accident and determined that a field sobriety test was not necessary.
We're told Michael refused medical treatment and left in a "personal vehicle."
Michael Phelps was just involved in a three-car accident in his hometown of Baltimore.
Phelps reportedly emerged from the wreck unscathed, but a woman in the other car was shaken up and taken to a local hospital. We're told she complained of "head and arm pain."
The accident occurred around 9pm local time.
A police spokesman says the Olympic Gold Medal winner was driving a Cadillac Escalade, which collided with a Honda accord.
We're told by witnesses on the scene -- the two cars collided after someone ran a stoplight -- and then hit a third car that was not moving at the time.
Police are investigating the cause of the crash.
One of the local papers is reporting that a passenger in Phelps' car was also injured, but it's unclear as to the extent of that person's injuries.
We're told there is already a tow-truck on scene removing Phelps' ride. We're told Michael's car received "heavy damage."
Story developing...
Filed under: Talk Sports, Michael Phelps
Tags: accident, baltimore, car crash, CarCrash, michael phelps, MichaelPhelps
Posted Jul 11th 2009 12:50AM by TMZ Staff
Michael Phelps is back in America's good graces after setting a new world record this week -- too bad a highly ironic advertisement on Subway's website keeps rehashing Phelps' pot smokin' past.

A rep for Subway tells us we have the bong wrong idea -- saying it's just an unfortunate coincidence, adding the Fresh Buzz site has been around for 3 years.
By the way, Phelps says when he gets the munchies, he goes for the meatball sub with jalapeno -- no word if he likes it toasted.
Filed under: Talk Sports, Michael Phelps
Tags: michael phelps, MichaelPhelps, subway, world record, WorldRecord
Posted Jun 13th 2009 1:50AM by TMZ Staff
And the gold medal for the best pornstache goes to...

The new, improved Michael Phelps.
First Phelps steals Mark Spitz's record ... now the guy's stache! Low blow.

Filed under: Wacky & Weird, Hot Bodies, Talk Sports, Michael Phelps
Tags: gold medal, GoldMedal, michael phelps, MichaelPhelps, mustache, pornstache, swimmer, swimming
Posted May 17th 2009 10:19AM by TMZ Staff
Stupid people who are circling Michael Phelps as if he's washed up. So, he lost the backstroke to Aaron Peirsol yesterday at the North Carolina meet. But here's the deal -- the backstroke is not his thing -- he didn't even compete in the backstroke in the Olympics.

P.S. he won the 200m freestyle and the 100m butterfly at the N.C. meet ... cynics!
Filed under: Talk Sports, Michael Phelps
Tags: aaron peirsol, AaronPeirsol, baqckstroke, meet, michael phelps, MichaelPhelps, north carolina, NorthCarolina, olympics
Posted Apr 8th 2009 2:30PM by TMZ Staff
After getting some munchies at Rosa Mexicana in New York, swimmer/bong enthusiast Michael Phelps was asked if he was staying clean -- and he didn't exactly answer "Yes."

Filed under: Paparazzi Video, Talk Sports, Michael Phelps
Tags: bong, high, marijuana, mexican food, MexicanFood, michael phelps, MichaelPhelps, olympics, pot, smoke, smoker, swimming, video, weed
Posted Mar 13th 2009 2:06AM by TMZ Staff
We all know what was in that bong -- but when flat out asked by Matt Lauer on "Today" if he smoked pot, Michael Phelps shamelessly ducked the answer 100%.

Filed under: TV, Talk Sports, Michael Phelps
Tags: bong, marijuana, Michael Phelps, MichaelPhelps, pot, smoke
Posted Feb 16th 2009 3:15PM by TMZ Staff
The ridiculously stupid Michael Phelps pot investigation is finally over.
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said today he was not going to charge Michael Phelps over that photo of him smoking a bong.
The photo was taken at a party in November when Phelps visited the University of South Carolina. Sheriff Lot defended his investigation by saying, "Michael Phelps is truly an American hero ... but even with his star status, he is still obligated to obey the laws of our state."
Eight other people were arrested in connection with the photo -- seven for possession and one for dealing.
UPDATE -- On his Facebook page, Michael Phelps released this statement: "I'm glad this matter is put to rest. But there are also some important lessons that I've learned. For me, it's all about recognizing that I used bad judgment and it's a mistake I won't make again. For young people especially -- be careful about the decisions you make. One bad decision can really hurt you and the people you care about. I really appreciate the support my family and fans have shown me and now I will move forward and dive back into the pool, having put this whole thing behind me."
Filed under: Talk Sports, Michael Phelps
Tags: bong, bonggate, marijuana, michael phelps, MichaelPhelps, pot, smoking, weed
Posted Feb 10th 2009 1:55PM by TMZ Staff
There are several reasons to watch this clip: 1) Jennie Finch is hot. 2) Jennie Finch, who won a gold medal in the same Olympics as Michael Phelps, guilt trips the dude over his bong scandal 3) Jennie Finch is really hot.

Filed under: Talk Sports, Michael Phelps, Exclusives
Tags: bonggate, Jennie Finch, JennieFinch, Michael Phelps, MichaelPhelps, Olympic medals, OlympicMedals, Olympics, softball