Michael Phelps Teaches the Baltimore Ravens How to Swim [View all]

Published on August 13, 2025 04:49PM EDT

Michael Phelps followed through on his promise to help the Baltimore Ravens learn how to swim. Just weeks after several Ravens players asked Phelps, 40, in an Instagram video to teach them how to swim — revealing that "one in three Ravens cannot swim" — the 23-time gold medalist hosted a water safety training day in Baltimore. Phelps taught the Ravens players, as well as 10 children from the Boys & Girls Club, how to swim at the team's facilities on Tuesday, Aug. 12, according to Today.

Phelps started the swim lesson with a pep talk to the players. "It’s what you do behind closed doors that no one sees that gives you the opportunity to stand out on this field every single week during the season and be great," he said. The swimming legend enlisted the help of his own childhood swim instructor, Miss Cathy, to help him teach the Ravens how to swim, emphasizing the importance of water safety for adults and children. "When I first got into the water to swim, Miss Cathy was my teacher, and I didn’t want to put my face under," he shared with the players.

One of the players who initially asked Phelps to teach the Ravens how to swim was offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley, who spoke to Today during the swim lesson. "We want our teammates to be able to have that skill," Stanley said. "And, you know, maybe it’ll save someone’s life one day."

https://people.com/michael-phelps-teaches-baltimore-ravens-how-swim-11790254

Great idea! Everyone should know how to swim. Phelps is from Baltimore and is a lifelong Ravens fan.