The Baltimore Ravens asked, and the GOAT obliged.
In a video posted to Instagram this week, members of the NFL football team asked one of their most famous fans Michael Phelps for a swim lesson. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey posted the video with the stat that 1 in 3 members of the Ravens team don’t know how to swim.
The Ravens are currently in week 1 of their offseason training camp in the Baltimore suburb of Owings Mills at the team’s training facility, dubbed “The Castle.” The facility has a pool that is used primarily for rehab work, but Ravens players showed off their synchro moves.
“We got a problem that only (Michael Phelps) can fix! From the #RavensAquaticsTeam” the post reads.
It didn’t take long for the most decorated Olympian in history to respond: “I got yall!!!! Let’s do it!!”
The video also features tackle Ronnie Staley, safety Kyle Hamilton, and tight end Charlie Kolar.
Kolar said he didn’t realize that Humphrey was actually going to post the video.
“I should have known. It’s so on brand,” Kolar told the Associated Press. “I thought it was going to be like a story or maybe sent to him, but I should have known better. I should have known better.”
Phelps, his wife, and his four children have called Arizona home since 2015, but he was born and raised in Baltimore and remains a huge Ravens fan. Phelps has put his weight behind the IM Safe program through his Michael Phelps Foundation.
Globally, an estimated half-a-million people drown every year. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children 1-4 in the United States. Around 70% of NFL players are Black, and around 37% of Black adults report not knowing how to swim, according to the CDC. That’s more than double the percentage of all adults who report the same (15%).
It’s crazy how many people in the world don’t know how to swim.
I can’t think of a better person to teach swimming than Phelps!
MY Baltimore ravens, what a beautiful article.
Not unless you get rid of that greasy-ass man bun
Maybe Phelps can also give psychology lessons to Lamar on how not to choke in the playoffs
We need MP together with DJT as the National Swimming Ambassador. Love the mojo of this article.
Love it. Our Aquatic sports need some creative marketing. Other sports connections, further entertainment possibilities, their histories. Learn to swim is finally getting some long overdue attention. Let’s use some celebrity power. Just learned today that Will Cain (FOX news host) played water polo at Pepperdine 94-96 as a walk on. Many others including our own Aquatic sports Olympians. More to follow if interested…
P.S. NICE MICHAEL!!
Genuinely don’t understand why this has downvotes
Do it! It’s awesome that these guys asked him to come back! How great for both sports!
Sounds like a good opportunity to promote the cause of learning how to swim. Swimming is a basic life skill that everyone should have.
It is truly alarming that one in three of these world class athletes weren’t given an opportunity as young people to learn a basic life skill.