People: Phelps to marry longtime girlfriend
Michael Phelps has taken the plunge and gotten engaged.
The 18-time Olympic gold medalist announced on Twitter he’s marrying Nicole Johnson, who was Miss California in 2010.
Phelps tweeted early Sunday: “She said yes.” He also posted a photo of the couple, hugging in the snow, taken by teammate Allison Schmitt.
The engagement comes as Phelps is finishing a six-month suspension from USA Swimming for his second drunken-driving arrest. The suspension ends March 6.
Phelps, 29, retired from competition after the 2012 London Olympics, saying he had no desire to keep swimming into his 30s and had accomplished all his goals. He won a record eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games and, with 18 golds and 22 medals overall, is by far the most decorated athlete in Olympic history.
But Phelps resumed training in 2013 and began competing again in April. He won three golds and two silvers at the Pan Pacific championships in Australia, and was named male athlete of the year by USA Swimming despite his suspension.
Phelps also is banned from this summer’s world championships in Russia, the biggest meet heading into the 2016 Olympics, but is pressing forward with plans to compete at the Rio Games.
Feud grows over Brown visitation
While Bobbi Kristina Brown fights for her life, a feud has erupted over whether her partner can visit her in the hospital.
The only daughter of the late singer Whitney Houston has been hospitalized in Atlanta since being found unresponsive Jan. 31 in a bathtub at her Georgia home.
A lawyer for Bobbi Kristina’s father, Bobby Brown, said in a statement late Saturday that Bobbi Kristina’s partner, Nick Gordon, was offered an opportunity to potentially visit her if he agreed to meet certain conditions.
But Gordon’s attorneys said Brown has consistently denied Gordon permission to visit.
They said they advised Gordon to refuse the conditions set by Brown. The conditions have not been made public.
The attorneys said Gordon has repeatedly offered to discuss the issue privately with Brown.
The birthday bunch
Actor-director Peter Fonda is 75. Actress Patricia Richardson (“Home Improvement”) is 64. Actress Kristin Davis (“Sex and the City”) is 50. Actor Aziz Ansari (“Parks and Recreation”) is 32. Actress Emily Blunt (“The Devil Wears Prada”) is 32. Actress Dakota Fanning is 21.