Olympics Star Michael Phelps: I’m Not Hiding Who I Am!

Olympics legend Michael Phelps sat down with Matt Lauer for a disturbing interview on "Today" — talking about the "downward spiral" that landed him in rehab and on the pages of The National ENQUIRER. The swimmer achieved fame as the most decorated Olympian of all time — with a total of 22 medals in three Olympiads. But that spotlight soon caught the athlete in a series of compromising positions. Michael was caught on camera indulging in drugs and alcohol — and The ENQUIRER landed an interview with a dominatrix who revealed the champion's love for a different kind of water sports!

Michael, now 30, saw his personal problems culminate on a September night in 2014, when he was arrested on a DUI and hit with a six-month suspension from competing in USA Swimming events. "I sent myself down a downward spiral," a contrite Michael told Matt. "I think it was more of a sign than anything else. That I had to get something under control, whatever it was. I look back at that night, and everything happened for a reason."

"I was at the lowest place I've ever been," Michael said. "Honestly, I sort of, at one point, I just felt like I didn't wanna see another day — felt like it should be over." Michael went to a rehab clinic in Arizona, where he told Matt that he had a personal revelation: "I finally was just, like, 'You know what? Screw this. I'm not hiding behind anything anymore. I am who I am. And, and you don't like it, it's really not my issue and it's not my problem.'"

Michael already had little to hide after The ENQUIRER talked to professional dominatrix Kim Petro (pictured), who revealed the shocking details of her own night with the star — which included a kinky "golden shower." Kim said that Michael had responded to an ad she posted that read: "All-natural super busty fetish provider with all the right curves in all the right places. Time with me is time well spent. Nothing shocks me. Don't be shy."

"When he said to drink some water before I got to the hotel," Kim told The ENQUIRER, "I knew what I was in for. I was going to go to the bathroom anyway — I might as well get paid for it!" But there were more surprises waiting for Kim when she arrived at Michael's room at NYC's luxury hotel The London in Feb. 2013.

Kim instantly recognized her celebrity client. "He was impressed with his body and showing it off," she recalled — as Michael stripped down to reveal that he was wearing skimpy women's underwear! 

Michael quickly got in position for Kim, who told The ENQUIRER: "I got above him [on the bed] to do the 'golden shower'" — referring to the sexual fetish where one person urinates on another. "After I was done," she added, "he asked if it was okay for him to [pleasure himself]."

"Of course I'm going to bend the rules for a famous Olympian," Kim recalled, "so he pulled down his panties" — only to reveal a string tied around his private parts! Michael, however, already had a reputation in the sexual underground after being caught dating gender-bending beauty Taylor Lianne Chandler!

Taylor — who's 12 years older than Michael — told The ENQUIRER in an exclusive interview that they met on the dating app Tindr in August 2014. Michael later invited her to his home to watch a football game. "I was a bit nervous," Taylor said, "but after only a few minutes, he made me feel so comfortable. One thing led to another, and we made love during halftime."

Taylor confirmed to The ENQUIRER in 2014 that she was born as David Roy Fitch. “I was born with male genitalia with no testicles," she said, "but I also have a uterus and no ovaries."

As a teenager, she changed her name to Paige Victoria Whitney, and later underwent surgery to complete her female transformation. Taylor was able to show off the results when she made a porn film — titled "Going for the Gold" — with a Michael Phelps-lookalike. "I still love Michael," she told The ENQUIRER, "and hope to rekindle what we had together when he gets out of rehab."

Instead, Michael announced in February 2015 that he's engaged to old girlfriend Nicole Johnson (pictured). In November that same year, he revealed that the couple is expecting their first child. But while Michael seems to have settled down, his interview with Matt Lauer showed that the Olympian may not be totally honest with himself about his addictions!

Matt asked the swimmer if he considered himself to be an alcoholic. Phelps replied: "I honestly don't know. I know I have probably moments where I have gone off the deep end where I shouldn't. I would say 'binged' more than anything else." Michael is also determined to wrap up his career with more gold medals at the upcoming Rio Olympics — telling Matt: "That's the difference. I had no desire to go to work out before. I want to retire how I want to retire, and I have a great opportunity to do that."