Michael Phelps’ Time in Rehab Finally Led to Reconnection With Dad After Years of No Communication: “Starting From Scratch”

When Michael Phelps focused on his swimming career, everyone knew he could become special. A lad beaming with loads of potential took center stage to provide some of the best Olympic Games moments in the event’s history. But the path to success was not straightforward. Phelps’s mother, Debbie, had a considerable part to play by helping him reach those goals. Suffering a strained relationship with his father, Debbie supported Phelps in becoming a global superstar.

Both father and son did not have a great relationship until Phelps attended rehab in Arizona. There, the duo talked after a long time as it helped him to bring closure. Out of all the 23 Olympic gold medals he won, Phelps’ singular aim to reconcile with his father was a tremendous achievement. 

Let bygones be bygones!

After his drunken driving arrest in 2014, Phelps headed for a 45-day stay at the Meadows rehabilitation center in Arizona. Determined to change the course of his life, he concentrated on the task ahead. Bring peace and cherish peace. When Phelps was nine, he saw his mother, Debbie, and Fred, going through a divorce. Since his teenage years, Phelps did not have the perfect father-son bond, leaving a deep void in him.

“Being able to rebuild a friendship with my father, that’s something I’ve always wanted. We’re starting from scratch,” mentioned Phelps, who wanted to bring about a change. He always struggled after the Olympics, as it left him in depression. Phelps had issues with people and wanted a different approach to his life. During that time, he invited his father to the rehabilitation center and spoke about their troubled past. 

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After not speaking for a long time, they had a heart-to-heart conversation, leaving a lot of thoughts for Phelps to ponder. Likewise, his relationship with his girlfriend, Nicole, had to be mended, and Phelps did that. Soon after, they married each other in 2015 and continue to live happily with three kids. 

Michael Phelps’ father figure

For him to mend his relationship with his father was critical. However, during his childhood, his coach Bob Bowman acted as a father figure, and the duo had a lovely relationship. Bowman assisted Phelps and developed into a physical monster inside the swimming pool, challenging him with laborious tasks while proving to be an important mentor in his life. Nonetheless, he loves that Michael is at peace after all the problems.

“That’s the piece he has now. Regardless of how he swims, he will be at peace. And that’s a great comfort to me,” said Bowman. 

Winning medals became a mainstay in his career for years to come. But he knew deep down inside that he needed peace, and after passing through rough periods, Phelps is enjoying his life, guiding people to attain better mental health.

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