?His First Big Attempt?: After 15 Difficult Years, Michael Phelps Once Revealed How His Father Tried to Get Back Into His Life

23-time Olympic gold medallist Michael Phelps has experienced the brightest swimming career in the sport. Being an ADHD-affected kid, Phelps had a tough childhood. He was extremely hyperactive and made teachers complain about him. It was his mother who introduced Phelps to swimming so that he could channel his energy into the sport. However, there is another side of Phelps’s childhood that dictated his relationship with his father when he grew up.

The most decorated swimmer, Phelps, has a total of 82 major international titles. The swimmer also holds a world record in several categories – 400-meter individual medley, 100-meter butterfly, 200-meter butterfly, and also 200-meter individual medley.

What was the relationship between Michael Phelps and his father?

Phelps was just nine-years-old when his parents got divorced. It was indeed tough for a small child like him to see his parents separate. Post that, Michael and Fred(father) eventually got distanced when the swimmer started getting highlighted in the sports industry. In a way, Phelps’s success influenced their relationship. The swimmer was hurt about his father not coming to his competitions. As a result, he slowly made peace with it.

However, the father-son relationship saw a dynamic change in 2004. On Phelps’s 19th birthday, he invited Fred. For the longest time, he attempted to get back into Phelps‘s life. Observing Fred’s unexpected behavior, he revealed in his autobiography, Beneath The Surface My Story;

“This was really his first big attempt at trying to bring me back into his life. The past 15 years haven’t been easy on our relationship. I think it’s necessary to have a father figure in your life, even when you get older.”

Read More: ?Looked at Myself as an Athlete Not a Human?- Michael Phelps Struggled With Finding Self Love During His Legendary Olympic Career

Phelps also revealed that neither his father nor he tried to reach out to each other in the previous years. He got used to maintaining a silent relationship with his father. Giving an example of his friends, Phelps stated he could maintain a flexible relationship with them. He could leave them whenever it was important, as his friends would understand. However, with his father, Phelps felt it was necessary to have a ‘discussion’ every time he met him.

Phelps paid tribute to his father on his demise.

Phelps’s father passed away on 25 October. His demise was announced by Phelps, in a heartfelt Instagram post. However, Phelps did not indicate the cause of his father’s demise.

Phelps wrote; “You’ll always be my dad. And I’ll always be your son…Love you dad and I will miss you rip dad.”

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Michael Phelps may have had a rocky relationship with his father, but he always loved him. What is your take on Phelps’ relationship with his father? Share your thoughts in the comments below.