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WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 28: American swimmer and Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps testifies during a hearing before the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of House Energy and Commerce Committee February 28, 2017 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The subcommittee held a hearing on “Ways to Improve and Strengthen the International Anti-Doping System.” (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 28: American swimmer and Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps testifies during a hearing before the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of House Energy and Commerce Committee February 28, 2017 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The subcommittee held a hearing on “Ways to Improve and Strengthen the International Anti-Doping System.” (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Michael Phelps is a name everyone would recognize and look up to. The swimming legend has proven himself worthy, with 23 Olympic medals and multiple world records. Yet, behind every successful athlete lies a string of struggles that help them get to the top. Phelps also has enough stories to recount, that would justify his position today. One of them is his relationship with his father.
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Phelps and his father grew distant, ever since his parents divorced. While he grew up with his mother, Debbie, Phelps was still uncomfortable with his father, until things changed for the better. An incident gave the athlete a chance to bond with his father and he took it.
Michael Phelps decided to start from scratch
In 2014, ‘The Baltimore Bullet’ was arrested under DUI and was consequently sent to a rehabilitation center in Arizona. There, the legendary swimmer had to face his fears and emerge victorious. That’s when he decided to invite his father to the center, as an act of reconciliation. The move worked! Fred and Phelps seemed to have a long conversation and they formed a bridge over their gap.
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RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 09: Michael Phelps of the United States celebrates winning gold in the Men’s 200m Butterfly Final on Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium on August 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
Both father and son took a step forward in their relationship. Phelps recollected how he aimed at starting from scratch. Their relationship would later bloom and become better. The icon later mentioned,?“Being able to rebuild a friendship with my father, that’s something I’ve always wanted”.
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However, in an unfortunate turn of events, Phelps announced the passing of his father, Fred Phelps. The swimming legend penned a heartwarming note below a picture of him and his father, saying?“you?ll always be my dad?And I?ll always be your son?Love you dad and I will miss you???? rip dad”.
Phelps has struggled with mental health issues like ADHD, anxiety, and depression. The icon has been through the darkest phases in his life that involved coming close to not wanting to live. When his life started taking a turn for the worse, the champ opened his arms out to seek help. As a result, it is heartwarming that his father stood by his side when life dragged him down.
