For Michael Phelps, swimming has always taken center stage in his life. Performing in the pool became the only thing Phelps focused on for most of his childhood and teenage years. Even important family issues took a back seat when his competitive swimming career was at stake. In his book ‘Beneath the Surface: My Story’, the 28-time Olympic medalist recalled identifying a particular pattern of family traditions. 

After winning six gold medals at the 2004 Athens Olympics, Phelps became the US Olympics swimming team’s star athlete. However, the Baltimore Bullet found his performance at the 2005 World Aquatics Championship disappointing. Despite trying his best, Phelps came back home disappointed with himself. However, the swimmer didn’t recognize the surrounding developments.

Michael Phelps found out his sister was getting ready for marriage

The Olympic swimmer wrote about noticing his mother, Debbie, and sister Hilary “acting a little strange.” Phelps hadn’t met his mother for a week. Before the swimming meets, the Olympic gold medalist focused on swimming and felt fatigued after the meet. “I knew it wasn’t just my fatigue that was making me think so.” Phelps writes in his book. Surprisingly, the Olympic gold medalist didn’t know that his sister, Whitney, had gotten engaged.

The Baltimore Bullet also found out the wedding was near. However, after learning the news, Phelps realized he had identified a peculiar pattern. “There is a pattern here of me learning about engagements and weddings right after major swim meets.” Phelps wrote. 

READ MORE: “First One to Find Competitive Success”: Michael Phelps’ Sister Paved the Way for His Olympic Glory

The 23-time Olympic gold medalist revealed that Whitney was going to marry Bob who Phelps knew as, “a manager with Enterprise Rent-a-Car and a great guy.” The Olympic gold medalist also wrote he could talk to Bob about football and thought about converting him into a Baltimore Ravens fan.

Whitney and Hilary Phelps inspired the swimming legend

Michael Phelps wasn’t the first of his siblings to jump into the pool. Phelps watched his older sisters, Hilary and Whitney, swim from the sidelines first. In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, Hilary opened up about her childhood memories. Hilary Phelps said she and her sister swam competitively, and Michael tagged along to see them compete.

Hilary and Whitney Phelps also found competitive success and inspired the young swimming prodigy. During the interview, Hilary Phelps revealed the siblings were never jealous of one another. On the contrary, they helped each other to grow as swimmers.

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What do you make of Michael Phelps’s revelation? Do you think Phelps focused too much on swimming? Write your thoughts in the comments.