“Look at Wayne Gretzky… Did Not Go Very Well”: Michael Phelps Refused to Follow the Footsteps of His Father Like Coach Bowman Due to the Scares of Failure

Winning is not just finishing first in a competition. It is a bunch of little things combined into one, leading to placing first. Dedication, hard work, sacrifices, a strong will to succeed, and a lot more go into making a winner. But all this is rendered useless if there’s no one to guide you through the whole process. The legend of Michael Phelps is a tale that checks all the aforementioned boxes.

Had Bob Bowman not been there, Phelps would probably never have become who he is today. Over 60 gold medals in his career, 23 of them from the Olympics, might never have come Phelps’ way if he did not have Bob’s guidance. Having learned a lot from Bowman, is Michael ready to put on the coach’s hat and pass on his knowledge?

Michael Phelps sheds light on role as a coach

Having already proved his mettle in the 2004 Athens Olympics, Michael Phelps set out to cement his legacy at the 2008 Beijing games. But no one could have foretold what Phelps would achieve. When the games were over, Michael went home with a staggering eight gold medals around his neck. In the Olympic games to follow, most of the events became a matter of who would finish second behind Michael.

Phelps’ long-time coach, Bob Bowman, had an equal amount of contribution to his success. Hence, whether a retired Michael would ever don the role of a coach often comes up.

During an interview, Phelps cleared the air over a potential role as a swimming coach. He said there was “zero chance” of him ever taking on the role.

Michael gave fitting reasoning to back his decision. He said, “In general, you find the greats in sport aren’t the best in coaching. Look at Wayne Gretzky. He tried to coach an NHL team, and that did not go very well.”

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But Phelps did not close the possibility of his affiliation with the sport entirely. A potential role in USA swimming or FINA is still a possibility for the Baltimore Bullet. “But not right now. I definitely wouldn’t say no, but a lot needs to happen, there needs to be a lot of changes to be honest.”

Phelps is happy with a new post-retirement role

Having retired from swimming for good after the 2016 Rio Olympics, people wondered what the next chapter of Michael’s life would be. Continuing his affiliation with the world of swimming felt like the natural next step for him, but Phelps had other plans. He continued staying in the public eye, not only as a legendary swimmer but also as an advocate for mental health.

Having battled mental health issues since an early age, Michael is familiar with the struggles one faces. Even as a celebrated Olympian, Phelps continued to fight against mental health issues. Having found therapy, Phelps could control his shortcomings and maturely handle them. Now, the retired swimmer has joined hands with multiple ventures, promoting the cause of better mental health to help those in need. Michael shares his experience with depression and gives motivational speeches around the world.

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Much like he serves as an inspiration to swimmers across the globe, Phelps is also an inspiration for people seeking help with mental health issues. Having achieved unparalleled success in swimming, Michael now aims to achieve success in helping people overcome their struggles.