Speaker 1: Michael Phelps has been absolutely dominating headlines in the past week,
Speaker 1: and not for anything happening in the pool. The most
Speaker 1: decorated Olympian in history unleashed a blistering five page statement
Speaker 1: on Instagram calling out USA Swimming's leadership and demanding a
Speaker 1: massive overhaul. CBS Sports and Swimming World Magazine both covered
Speaker 1: his explosive criticism, reporting that Phelps accused the organization of
Speaker 1: failing athletes, losing transparency and accountability, and not prioritizing athlete voices.
Speaker 1: He cited USA Swimming's lack of a premanent CEO for
Speaker 1: nearly a year, lamented the decline in medal counts at
Speaker 1: Paris twenty twenty four compared to the glory days of Rio,
Speaker 1: and said money and governance woes are choking the sport.
Speaker 1: Perhaps most revealing, he admitted that, as a father of four,
Speaker 1: he isn't sure he wants his sons in competitive swimming,
Speaker 1: given how sad and angry the systemic dysfunction makes him.
Speaker 1: Phelps offered himself as a resource for change, pushing for
Speaker 1: an independent review improved athlete services, and with particular urgency,
Speaker 1: a revitalization of grassroots programs to reverse the pandemic driven
Speaker 1: membership exodus. His call provoked widespread buzz, with former teammate
Speaker 1: Ryan Lochtey joining the chorus and sharing a meme of
Speaker 1: a gravestone for USA Swimming. Phelps enhanced his visibility with
Speaker 1: a major community partnership. Youth Sports Business Report confirms that
Speaker 1: the Baltimore Ravens teamed up with his foundation for a
Speaker 1: team wide swimming initiative. Phelps personally led lessons focusing on
Speaker 1: water safety and confidence building, and even brought his childhood coach,
Speaker 1: Miss Cathy. The team gifted one hundred thousand dollars to
Speaker 1: the Michael Phelps Foundation, a notable move that ties athlete
Speaker 1: development with mental health advocacy and life skills. Ravens coach
Speaker 1: John Harbaugh incorporated Phelps into PEP talks, where the swimmer
Speaker 1: drew parallels between preparation and sports and success on the field.
Speaker 1: Chips and photos of the Ravens learning to swim with
Speaker 1: Phelps circulated widely on social media and the NFL's own
Speaker 1: Instagram feed, with Phelps' motivational approach getting praise for both
Speaker 1: its warmth and intensity. His social media presence has remained strong,
Speaker 1: with Instagram posts drawing tens of thousands of likes, including
Speaker 1: candid shots with pro golfer Ricky Fowler that hint at
Speaker 1: his continued cross sport friendships. No sensational business moves tied
Speaker 1: directly to Phelps have broken through this week. Reports from
Speaker 1: monitor BP still peg is net worth in the eighty
Speaker 1: dollars one hundred million dollars range, but all eyes right
Speaker 1: now are on his advocacy and his willingness to shake
Speaker 1: up swimming's power structure. Their speculation that Phelps's outspokenness could
Speaker 1: push USA Swimming into real reforms before the twenty twenty
Speaker 1: eight Olympics in LA, especially as media and fellow athletes
Speaker 1: rally behind his demands. However, there is no formal indication
Speaker 1: of negotiations or direct meetings yet. So far, this is
Speaker 1: all Phelps leading the conversation publicly and unapologetically. The coming
Speaker 1: weeks will tell whether these headlines become true turning points
Speaker 1: in his story or simply another chapter in his relentless
Speaker 1: pursuit of change. And that is it for to day.
Speaker 1: Make sure you hit the subscribe button and never miss
Speaker 1: an update on Michael Phelps. Thanks for listening. This has
Speaker 1: been a quiet please production