"That was non-existent relationship for so long" - When Michael Phelps opened up on strained bond with father Fred and their reconnection

Michael Phelps once shared about reconnecting with his father, Fred Phelps, after their relationship had previously been strained. One of the factors that affected the father-son relationship was the divorce between Phelps’ mother Debbie and Fred while the Olympian was very young.

In a 2021 interview with brucedennill.co.za, which focused on the Olympic champion’s perspective on the documentary The Weight of Gold, where he served as executive producer and narrator, Phelps discussed the topic. On being initially asked whether his self-medication was a response to the pressure he experienced, he said:

“It is probably part of the reason I did that. I was trying to escape and numb myself, and I was trying to get away from everybody.”

The most decorated Olympian stated that some of the actions he was involved in, including DUIs, were actually cries for help and that he feared rejection, adding:

“I think some of the things I did were really my cries for help, and they were looked past. But again, I didn’t know how to ask for help, and I didn’t want to be rejected if somebody couldn’t or wouldn’t help me.”

Michael Phelps then explained that his struggles emerged from things he had encountered during childhood, including his parents’ separation when he was young. After discovering about this likely through self-reflection or therapy, he realized how deeply this had affected him. He shared that, over time, he began reconnecting with his father, a relationship that had previously been non-existent, saying:

“After discovering that a lot of my struggles were based in my childhood and based in my parents splitting when I was very young and not really growing up with my dad, I was able to try to tackle that part of things. I still speak with [my dad] from time to time, but that was a non-existent relationship for so long. We do speak now, but it’s on my terms. Once I dealt with all of that, it was easier.”

Notably, after Phelps' DUI arrest in 2014, he entered an in-patient treatment center and continued therapy. It was during this time that Phelps’ relationship with his father began to improve.

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Michael Phelps penned heartfelt message after father Fred passed away

Michael Phelps. Source: Getty

Michael Phelps wrote a heartfelt message on Instagram after his father Fred passed away. On October 24, 2022, he shared three pictures with his father, including one where Fred was holding his grandson. Phelps captioned the post, adding:

“You’ll always be my dad…And I’ll always be your son…Love you dad and I will miss you❤️❤️ rip dad”

In one of the pictures, a young Michael could be seen with Fred, who was dressed in his Maryland state trooper uniform. Lindsey Vonn and Chandler Parsons were among the athletes who offered their condolences under the post’s comments.

Notably, Phelps is now a father of four sons with his wife Nicole, whom he married in 2016. His sons are Boomer (8), Beckett (6), Maverick (5), and Nico, who will turn 1 on January 16, 2025.