“Took a Lot of Flak for That One”: Swimming Legend Michael Phelps Was Asked an Embarrassing Question After Breaking a World Record in 2003

Michael Phelps is a former American swimmer and an Olympic legend. He is also one of the most accomplished and well-known athletes in the sporting world. Due to his several Olympic records, Phelps is called the greatest of all time of the Olympics.

The swimming legend also holds several world records to his name. Once, when Phelps claimed one of his many records, he and his sister were left embarrassed by the reporters, who had asked them a weird question.

Reporters left Michael Phelps and his sister astounded

In 2004, Phelps released his autobiography Beneath the Surface, where he shared his life story and his growing swimming career. By then, Phelps had already achieved some incredible accomplishments in the pool and had become a fan favorite.

However, people did not know much about his family and especially his two elder sisters. Hence, many often had wrong assumptions about the swimmer and his sister Hilary. While writing about an embarrassing situation in his book, Phelps recalled the 2003 World Championships in Barcelona, where he had broken the 200 IM world record.

Phelps wrote, “I had proposed to my mom that she should let me get a dog if I broke a world record in Barcelona, so after the race, Hilary held up a handmade sign that said simply: Dog?” Although this wholesome family moment was interrupted by reporters who thought Hilary was Phelps’ girlfriend. “Every time I swam, you could almost sense the crowd waiting for the mom and sister shot. Of course, they didn’t know Hilary was my sister. One reporter would later ask me in the press conference if Hilary was my girlfriend. We both took a lot of flak for that one.”

Read More: “Put Her Head in Her Hands”: Swimming Legend Michael Phelps’ Condition to His Mother on Breaking the World Record Left Her Embarrassed in 2003

Although Phelps and his sister later got used to such questions, it still created a very awkward moment for the siblings.

Phelps and some of his famous world records

“The Flying Fish” has numerous records to his name including – the Olympics and various other world records. In 2001, Phelps reached his first world record in the 200m butterfly at the American World Championship.

At 15, he became the youngest male swimmer to claim a world record in swimming. 2003 was a golden era of world records for Phelps, as he won four gold medals and broke five world records in a year.

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In total, “The Baltimore Express” had set 38 world records between 2001 to 2009, the most by any male swimmer in history.