Michael Phelps becomes first-time father

Michael Phelps is a first-time father.[br /][br /]The 18-time Olympic gold medalist and fiancee Nicole Johnson welcomed Boomer Robert Phelps on Thursday night in Arizona, where Phelps has been training in preparation for the Rio Olympics.[br /][br /]Phelps' longtime coach, Bob Bowman, confirmed that the baby's middle name is in his honor, calling it "a big surprise" in a text to The Associated Press.[br /][br /]Phelps had been training at high altitude in Colorado and left the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs to return to Johnson's side.[br /][Ads /][br /]Last month at a meet in Mesa, Arizona, Phelps said the couple had already selected the baby's name, although he didn't reveal it then.[br /][br /]"It's something we both agreed on, thought it was different," he said.[br /][br /]Asked what type of parent he would be, Phelps said, "I'll probably be very protective. That's how I am."[br /][br /]Phelps credited Johnson for being "nothing but one of the best supporters I could ask for."[br /][br /]At the Mesa meet, Phelps talked with Dana Vollmer, who is attempting to make another Olympic team after giving birth to her son 13 months ago.[br /][br /]"It will be good for him, like it is for me," she said. "Michael and Nicole will be good parents."[br /][br /]Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.[/i][br /][br /]