“O My Heavens”- Michael Phelps’ Mother Stood Blank Witnessing Son’s Name on Olympics Trail Scoreboard

In the competitive world, sometimes, your failure becomes a nightmare for those who believe in you. Debbie Phelps, the mother of swimming legend Michael Phelps, saw her daughter Whitney miss the Olympics team in the 1996 trials. Hence, four years later, when the same opportunity came Michael’s way, she was terrified to the core.

When Michael Phelps began his swimming journey, Debbie never in her wildest dream thought of her son becoming the most decorated Olympian someday. In fact, Mrs. Phelps called coach Bob Bowman “crazy” when he laid out 12 years of his life in front of her. However, 4-years later, when the ‘Baltimore Bullet’ made his first Olympic team, everything started making sense to her.

Michael Phelps at the 2000 US Olympics trials

She was sceptical of Phelps making to team, “I really didn’t have any expectations of him making that team, but no, there was a little hope,” said Debbie. However, she vividly remembers “turning and looking at the scoreboard and the last wall he hit. The announcer said here comes Phelps and I just continued watching the scoreboard saying is there gonna be a one or two next to his name and when the two came up I was like O my heavens.”

She thought Michael missed his chance like his sister Whitney. Though soon she found out that it was not the final list and she could breathe a sigh of relief again. At the end, when her son finally made it to the Olympics, Debbie recalls, “it was a magical moment.”

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Was raising a son alone tough for Debbie Phelps?

Michael Phelps’ parents got divorced when he was just nine years old. Hence, his mother and his two elder sisters were the people he looked up to. Raising three kids alone and managing her professional life was definitely a task for Debbie. However, it didn’t stop her from forging her son into the most decorated Olympian ever.

Michael’s mother has always been there for him since childhood. Sometimes in the forefront, sometimes supporting him from a distance. Even in his darkest times in 2014, when he faced his second DUI arrest, she was there along with his father.

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Perhaps the swimming legend owes his every victory to his mother more than anyone else.