Michael Phelps, has a lot of stories to share about his career. Apparently, The Baltimore Bullet was pretty popular in his hometown. The Baltimore Sun, a Maryland-based local news organization, once held a contest in which the entire local populace was invited to choose a nickname for rising star Phelps. This list included names like Phast Phish, Physique, and even Greece Lightning.

Phelps also had an autograph session, which left him exhausted. Although little did he know, he was not done. He was approached by a swarm of fangirls, one of whom wore a shirt that read ‘Marry me, Michael’. Embarrassed, Phelps who was just 17 at that time, was left speechless. 

Probably the longest night of his life

Phelps talked about his first-hand experience with fame in the book ‘Beneath the Surface’. “‘What’s playing here?’ I said. “‘It doesn’t even get this crowded at night.’ Only when I saw one of the teenage girls waiting in the line did I realize the line was for me. The shirt on her back that read ‘Marry me, Michael’ was a dead giveaway,” says Phelps.

The one-hour autograph session became a two-hour session. What’s more, is that the events of the day didn’t just end at midnight. While Phelps was rushing towards his home, he saw a crowd of people screaming, that the Baltimore Bullet was back in town. It was pretty heartwarming for the swimmer, for his first tryst with fame.

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The people of Baltimore screamed ‘Congratulations, Michael Phelps’, and celebrated the return of their hometown hero. Phelps didn’t get a wink of sleep as locals also swarmed to his house to celebrate Phelps’ achievement with him.

WATCH THIS STORY – Swimming GOAT Michael Phelps Revisited His Record Breaking Swimming Memories

 The time when Michael Phelps rose to fame

In the book ‘Beneath the Surface’, Michael Phelps shares the early moments when he rose to fame. The book was published in 2004, when Phelps had secured eight Olympic medals, including six gold and two bronze. Before the year the book was published, Phelps set seven world records in just 41 days.

Michael Phelps shined in the sports world after the 2001 U.S. spring nationals. The swimmer set a world record at the age of 15, which was an unbelievable feat for any swimming enthusiast. He also won his first international title in the same year at the world championships in Fukuoka, Japan.

ALSO READ – 6’4 Legend Michael Phelps Kneels for His Kids in a Heartwarming Gesture at the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

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