Ten years after concluding his Olympic swimming career in Rio de Janeiro with 23 gold medals, Michael Phelps attended the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, California, accompanied by two of his young sons. Among them, Beckett, aged 8, has shown an interest in swimming. Alongside him at the event were his 6-year-old brother Maverick, while the oldest brother, Boomer, aged 10, cared for the youngest sibling, Nico, aged 2, at home.
The competition featured teams from the U.S., Australia, Canada, and Japan. Phelps’ long-time coach, Bob Bowman, known to the children as ‘Grandpa Bob,’ is involved with the U.S. team. He offered Beckett guidance, noting, “He’s got more of a sprinter-type stroke, which is different from mine and makes me happy.” The Phelps family is currently evaluating swimming coaches in Phoenix, acknowledging Beckett’s interest.
Phelps emphasized his support for Beckett’s potential swimming career, stating, “If he wants to be a swimmer, I will support it. I will never push him into it. I want him to become his own person. I just hope he has fun.” He shared insights with Beckett about the demands of the sport, telling him, “Dude, if you want to train hard and grind, this is the sport.”
Phelps began swimming at seven in Baltimore, aiming to follow his older sisters and manage his energy levels. Overcoming an initial fear of water, he debuted in the Olympics at 15 during the 2000 Sydney Games. Reflecting on Beckett, he noticed similarities, particularly in his son’s difficulty managing anger. Phelps advised Beckett to channel his emotions into swimming: “stare at that black line and scream as loud as you possibly can.”