Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time. He also has several other feats to his name. However, these accomplishments did not come easy for the swimmer.

Phelps had to undergo rigorous training to become the distinguished personality people recognize today. In addition to spending several hours in the swimming pool daily, the five-time Olympian had to overcome various obstacles to become the winningest athlete in Olympic history.

Fred Phelps wanted Michael Phelps to take breaks

The journey for Michael Phelps did not come without sacrifice. The swimmer revealed his overtaxing regimen during his competitive career in numerous interviews. Indicating his busy schedule, Phelps once said, “Eat, sleep and swim, that’s all I can do.”

The rigorous daily routine seemed to be taking a toll on Phelps, as he would return home depressed after each Olympic meet. However, one person did not want the athlete to devote all his time and energy to the sport. It was none other than Michael’s father, Fred Phelps.

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Although his father did not want the swimmer to shun the athletic lifestyle, Fred wanted his son to take some time off. Indicating Michael’s busy regimen, the father said, “He never got a chance to be a teenager, like most normal kids.”

However, Fred tried to help his son the best way he could. He would ask the Olympian to take some time off from his busy routine so they could spend some time as a family.

“I’d encourage him to take the occasional break. I’d say, ‘Let’s take three or four days, go to the beach.’ And I’d get overruled,” Fred continued.

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In time, the father and son would drift apart to the point where they were not even on speaking terms. Fred would attribute this to the busy lifestyle of his son. During a 2016 interview, Fred said, “I kept trying and trying, but he always had something to do.”

However, the two have reconciled their relationship during Phelps’ time at the Meadows. And they have kept in constant touch ever since.

Phelps’ rigorous training regimen during competitive years

During the peak of his career, the 28-time Olympic medalist followed a regimen that would eclipse most athletes’ training regimens. The Flying Fish swam anywhere from 70,000 to 100,000 yards in a week.

Furthermore, he trained for three to five hours daily, seven days a week. The athlete hardly took breaks during this period. And Phelps confessed to swimming 365 days without a single break in between when he was training for the Olympics.

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And when the Baltimore Bullet was not training in the pool, he would dedicate the time to recover from such a harsh regime. What do you make of Michael Phelps’ father’s views about the champion athlete?