Olympic hero Michael Phelps is moving his training base to Tempe, Arizona, but he was back in his longtime home of Baltimore this weekend, putting on a clinic for Special Olympics athletes.
ESPN reports that Phelps ran the clinic at the Meadowbrook Aquatic & Fitness Center, the pool where he took swim lessons way back when he was a rambunctious 7-year-old.
Phelps worked with 5 swimmers who will race at this summer’s Special Olympics World Games. The 5 came together from across the country for the clinic, as they will for the World Games, to take place from July 25th to August 2nd in Los Angeles, California.
Phelps has been involved with Special Olympians since at least 2007, when he attended the World Games in Shanghai. Part of his connection to the sport is his former swimming instructor Cathy Bennett, who is still teaching lessons at the Baltimore facility.
The ESPN piece looks back at Phelps beginnings with the sport, when Bennett struggled to keep the 7-year-old, ADHD-diagnosed Phelps focused on his swimming lessons. But Bennett eventually helped Phelps gain a connection with the pool, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Interesting… Phelps says that he’s having practice sessions “like I’ve never had since 2002.” Hopefully this translates to some fast swims in Santa Clara finally.
…or at least San Antonio!