Of all the relations one has in life, friendship is something that makes it a little easier. Perhaps this is the reason our beloved friends hold a very special place in our hearts. They are like the family we are not born with, but a family that we chose for ourselves. For swimming legend Michael Phelps, that one friend he can always count on is NFL superstar Ray Lewis.
When you hear the name Michael Phelps, all that comes to mind is 23 Olympic golds, 39 world records, and the best swimmer ever. However, these highs aren’t the only thing that defines the swimming legend. He has gone through his share of bad days, too. Though in those dark days, he had some pretty important people in life who brought him home when everything seemed lost.
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Michael Phelps recalls his timeless bond with Ray Lewis
We often search for people that match our frequency. So for Phelps, the only way to do that was to find a champion like him, and luckily, he found Lewis Ray. The NFL star helped his champion friend when he was at his lowest. About Ray’s role in his life, Phelps said, “He’s been through everything — the ups and downs — and he’s helped me literally overcome a lot of things that I’ve had in my life that have been tough, and he’s been there for me.”
When Michael Phelps got emotional after Ray Lewis brought up their friendship in his speech 🙏
(via @thecheckdown) pic.twitter.com/lO6rsl2cLS
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 27, 2020
Back in 2012, Phelps was coursing through the darkest days of his career. That’s when he turned to Ray for advice. He said, “He’s probably the only person who could really help me do that.”
They both have faced a downfall in their careers
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The reason Phelps turned to Ray for advice was because he was someone who had gone through a similar life experience. Back in 2000, the Super Bowl champion went through a controversy that proved to be the biggest blot on his incredible career. However, leaving everything behind, Ray emerged as a champion that he has been throughout his career.
Ray Lewis to Michael Phelps: "How'd you tell me to go out?" pic.twitter.com/XEZFCwgu
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) February 4, 2013
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Perhaps it was a wise decision by Phelps to turn to Ray when he needed the advice of his life. And as expected, Ray apparently had all the answers he was looking for.
WATCH THIS STORY- “Difficult at Times”- Michael Phelps Recalled the Side-Effects of Career That Affected Phelps’ Family