Rio : Rio should stick to his plan , forget Michael Phelps in the day and retire . He says sports history is lousy with icons who did n't quit when they should have and fell short . But that euphoria , like all things , passes , and at day 's end many athletes are left wondering not whether they should have stayed on longer , but whether , in missing senior proms and romantic summer nights and family vacations , they surrendered too much . He says main reason to ignore advice to keep competing is that Phelps should begin to live life . Pearlman : the 1992 Games is great moment in time , but it ca n't last .
Rio : Rio should stick to his plan , forget Michael Phelps in the day and retire . He says sports history is lousy with icons who did n't quit when they should have and fell short . He says main reason to ignore advice to keep competing is that Phelps should begin to live life . Pearlman : the 1992 Games is great moment in time , but it ca n't last .