Rick Warren Congratulates Michael Phelps on Olympic Wins: Reminds Athlete That "God Has a Plan"

Leah Marieann Klett : Aug 17, 2016
Gospel Herald

"I've prayed for you each day in Rio. God has a great future for you." -Rick Warren

(Brazil)—[Gospel Herald] Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren congratulated Michael Phelps for his record 23rd gold medal at the Olympic games in Rio De Janeiro, and reminded him that God has a plan for his life. (Photo: Reuters /Stefan Wermuth/via Gospel Herald)

"Saw Michael Phelps, #PurposeDrivenSwimmer, win his 23rd gold! I've prayed for you each day in Rio. God has a great future for you," Warren wrote in a Facebook message on Sunday.

Phelps, the most accomplished swimmer in Olympic history, scored five gold medals and a silver in the Rio Games, bringing his career total to a record 23 golds, and 28 medals overall.

"Wow! The best way to finish! It has truly been an honor to represent the USA. A dream come true!" the 31-year-old athlete wrote on Facebook after his final win.

While Phelps, who has a three-month-old son, Boomer, with fiancé Nicole Johnson, is currently resting on his laurels, his life wasn't always so positive: The athlete revealed in a recent ESPN documentary he was considering suicide in 2014, even after his extraordinary success during the 2012 Olympics.

As earlier reported, Phelps told ESPN that he was "struggling to figure out who he was outside the pool," which led to heavy drinking and drug use...

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