At the end of his swim lessons with the Ravens yesterday, Michael Phelps swam a 25 off the blocks, touching in 9.98, proving that, even in retirement, the GOAT has still got it.
Late last month, members of the Baltimore Ravens posted a video on Instagram revealing that 1 in 3 members of the team did not know how to swim, and they asked Michael Phelps, a well-known Ravens fan, for his help.
He said yes, and they held lessons on Tuesday during the Ravens training camp. Along with the Ravens players, there were 10 kids from the local Boys & Girls club who also participated in the lessons.
Phelps and his son Beckett attended practice before the lesson. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey, the instigator of the Instagram video, told Phelps how he and a few of the other players were in the therapy pool in the Ravens facility, and someone on the outside mentioned they did not know how to swim. After hearing that, Humphrey began asking around and discovered that there was a significant number of players on the team who did not know. One of them said “I’m from New York. I don’t need to know how to swim, but if Michael comes, I’ll learn.”
What started as a video @marlon_humphrey posted on social media…
resulted in a donation of $100,000 to the @MichaelPhelps Foundation 💜@TODAYshow pic.twitter.com/gdn9UpW7aE
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 13, 2025
The team made the journey to Loyola University Maryland, where Phelps was a volunteer assistant coach for Brian Loeffler more than 20 years ago. The lessons took place in the Mangione Aquatic Center, a 14 lane 25-yard pool with a diving well.
Phelps brought a few members of the Michael Phelps Foundation to help him teach, including the woman who taught him to swim, “Miss Cathy”.
Before the lessons started, Phelps thanked the players for learning. “Thank you guys for taking this step in being vulnerable. You guys getting in the water could potentially save and change somebody else’s life in a positive way.”
Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1-4 and the second leading cause of accidental injury deaths in children ages 5-9. 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%).
Ravens Editorial Director Ryan Mink captured some of the day in videos that he posted to ‘X’. Phelps features in a few, helping teach guys like defensive end Travis Jones how to kick.
Michael Phelps teaching Travis Jones how to swim with the help of a pool noodle = 🥇content pic.twitter.com/SIfjAbm0wH
— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) August 12, 2025
He also led a group of guys in kicking practice.
Michael Phelps teaching proper kicking form with the guys. pic.twitter.com/K42ivj6J6N
— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) August 13, 2025
Linebacker Roquan Smith learned from members of the Foundation, and he can be seen floating and kicking on his back.
Never stop learning, folks. Georgia native Roquan Smith said he can doggy paddle maybe 20 yards or so, but today he was among the Ravens’ most engaged students learning how to legit swim. pic.twitter.com/u9i7TseUDs
— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) August 12, 2025
Smith was also recorded practicing holding his breath underwater along with a few other players.
Roquan Smith and teammates practicing holding their breath underwater. For someone who didn’t grow up swimming, this is courage and leadership. 👏 pic.twitter.com/zsxVehDqgH
— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) August 13, 2025
They ended the lessons with a diving competition and a few 25s off the blocks. In one of the 25s, Phelps dove a 9.98 second 25 underwater. In the same heat, safety Kyle Hamilton swam a time of 14.29.
Michael Phelps stepped back up on the block today and went toe to toe with the Baltimore Ravens in a 25 Free for time…
He’s still got it.
9.98 – Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps)
14.29- Kyle Hamilton (@Ravens Safety) pic.twitter.com/6ncuJAfxfk— Kyle Sockwell (@kylesockwell) August 13, 2025
At the end of the day, the Ravens donated $100,000 to the Michael Phelps Foundation, which is dedicated to helping families be “more confident and comfortable in the water and in life.”
Didn’t Dara Torres win silver in the 50M freestyle at the 2008 Olympics and break the American record and swim a personal best in the process? I suppose anything is possible.
Congrats to raising $ for a great cause. And 👏 to ravens for working on an important life skill
No way Phelps can legally break 10 in a 25 free
He’s definitely making comeback for LA Olympics.
You heard it here first folks
I hope same. He could swim 100m free 47,6-4,7 and make relay team. Biggest challenge is stay healthly. Alexy is more better but not others. Dressel is focused now 50 free and 50fly. 100 metres is unclear. Giuliano was bad this year. Phelps need only top 5 US trials. Gabrielle Rose was finalist US trials age at 47 this summer and swam PB age at 46.
He won’t swim if he can’t be the best
As a big fan of MP, I’d love nothing better seeing those gullwing stretches on the blocks again. But realistically, even if he trains nonstop for the next 3 years, he probably won’t even win a spot during the trials. Besides, he’s more likely to make it to US golf team than swimming, if you judge it based on his social media postings.
Could he beat Gretchen Walsh in a 25 fly?
No
Illegal swim. Didn’t break surface at 15. I blame USA swimming
Who’s gonna DQ the GOAT? 😂
It’s all inclusive rules. No exceptions. That’s Honest and a fair playing field
He could make the 4x 100m freestyle relay team for LA 2028 if he wants. Mark Spitz swam personal best at age 42. Olympic finalist Gabrielle Rose swam PB 100m breast age at 46.. Phelps is 40.
I understand what you’re saying but I don’t think it’s super realistic, especially because younger and better talent is becoming more common. His best time is also 47.51 from the Beijing Olympics which could arguably be his peak in terms of freestyle. I can’t imagine he could ever get into the 47s again and that probably won’t event make finals at nationals by 2027.
Dressel not swim 100 never and others is not supermens.. Only Jack Alexy is more better than ohers guys.
No. He relay split was 47,12 at Rio olympics 4x 100 freestyle. He was 31 years old.
The 47.1 was from a rolling start. On the Rio relay Dressel was the lead off and Phelps went second. Translated to a flat start his time is in the ballpark of mid-to-high-47.
In 2008 his relay split was from leading off the relay. That produced the 47.51, which is is his best flat start time. That was a super-suited swim, also.
47.51 (assuming he could go that fast again) would have made the team as a relay swimmer this year (3rd at world trials was 47.49, 4th was 47.58). But it wouldn’t have been a game changer. Times have gotten a lot faster in the past 9 years. Kyle Chalmers won gold in 2016 with a 47.58. At 2025… Read more »
Problem isn’t throwing down a 47 on a relay doing it 3 times at trials and the third one counts.
Yes,It is Hard but Gabrielle Rose swam two swim per day US worlds trials 2025: morning heat time 1.08,54 and night time was also 1.08,54 age at 47. PB is 1.08,38 last year US olympic trials..
Phelps was absolutely pedant proffessional..
Kristiina – A pedant is someone who shows off or emphasizes their knowledgel
How can you use such a fancy word without being able to spell professional?
Gabby rose also didn’t hold multiple world records and still doesn’t have multiple top times ever. It’s significantly harder to keep close to your own times as you age, and the fact that his times were almost all world records or top 10 of all time times when done doesn’t make it easier. He was already slower in many of his events between 2008, 2012, and 2016, and now we’re looking at 2028 for a man who is currently in his 40’s and only getting older.
I don’t think it is accurate to say Spitz swam a PB at 42. When he made his comeback in the early 90s (which I think is what you are referring to) he was aiming at making the Olympic team in the 100 fly. His 100 fly time from 1972 was 54-something. In the early 90s he was going 58s from what I recall. I remember an article making fun of him b/c his fly time was slower than one of Chas Morton’s NAGs.
Also, even if he had gotten back to 54, that wouldn’t have made the 92 team. Times hadn’t gotten much faster from 72 to 92 in the 100 fly, but they were faster.
I think it… Read more »
That’s right. Spitz did not go PBs at 42.
You’re exactly right about Spitz’s fly times (:54.27 in 1972, :58 in 1992). Where you’re a bit wrong: :54 is all it took to make 1992 Olympics – Pablo 54.05, Mel 54.06. Spitz’s 1972 time would have placed 3rd.
Ah. I was thinking of Pablo Morales’s WR in the 100 fly, which was 52-something from 1986.
I forgot that Pablo was slower in 92, and that the rest of the world hadn’t caught up as well. I should have double checked before posting.
But I was really just trying to point out that Spitz wasn’t anywhere near his best at that point.
Google ai answer….
Mark Spitz, the legendary swimmer, attempted a comeback in the 100m butterfly at the age of 41, aiming for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, but ultimately fell short of qualifying for the Trials. He raced in several made-for-TV match races, including against Tom Jager and Matt Biondi, but his best time of 58.03 seconds was not fast enough to compete with the top contenders.
Computer error was. I am Sorry..
14 low 25 free is actually really impressive for a non swimmer
It’s yards
Yes, and 14 low 25yds is pretty impressive for a NON swimmer.
Difference between really impressive and pretty impressive Lil bro
Even though he is non swimmer he is an elite athlete.
Elite on land.
Yeah. Kyle Hamilton is one of the best defensive players in all of football.
The best safety!