US swimmer Michael Phelps is one of the greatest athletes in the sporting world. Phelps is a 28-time Olympic medalist and holds several Olympic records. He has also won 23 Olympic gold medals, the most by any athlete in tournament history. With broad shoulders and very long arms, Phelps’ physique is a perfect fit for a swimmer.

However, once the athlete himself said he had short legs. Ever wondered what if Phelps had long feet and was more elevated in height? The Duke University legend, coach Mike Krzyzewski had shared a hilarious answer to this question.

Could Michael Phelps have been a basketball player?

In 2016, swimmer Michael Phelps and former basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski were interviewed together for an event. During the discussion, the interviewer asked Phelps if he had any unique physicality as a swimmer.

To this question, Phelps replied, “I have broad shoulders, long arms, and short legs. I have really tiny legs.” Phelps’ tiny legs confession had left the audience in giggles. Phelps then explained why his short legs didn’t matter, as his upper body helped him in swimming.

However, the legendary basketball coach Krzyzewski jumped into the conversation and jokingly said, “If he had long legs I would have recruited him.” Phelps and everyone else at the event burst into laughter after Krzyzewski’s comment.

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Maybe if Phelps did have longer legs, we would have seen “The Baltimore Bullet” setting records in the NBA too.

How did Phelps’ swimming career begin?

Although Phelps’ father was a footballer, he ended up as a swimmer because of his mother and sisters.

Phelps’s parents divorced in 1994 when he was just nine-year-old. The divorce left a negative impact on Phelps. However, Phelps’ mother wanted him and his sisters to learn to swim. Although, she would have never thought his son would take her words so seriously.

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Hence, Phelps started swimming with his sisters and soon fell in love with the sport. Well, the rest is history.