From Pool to Sidelines: Michael Phelps, Baltimore’s No. 1 Fan, Cheers on Lamar Jackson and the Ravens

The discussion quickly turned to the Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens squads, with the 2013 victory holding a particularly raw, emotional memory for Phelps, especially given his close bond with linebacker Ray Lewis.

When asked what he recalls most about that championship run, Phelps paused, a genuine smile breaking out across his face. “S---. Probably me crying my eyes out because I was so excited! I remember sitting with my mom and I was pumped!”

The victory was incredibly poignant due to his deep, long-standing friendship with Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis. “Being able to spend it with Ray and I know what that journey was for him and Ray is like a brother to me,” Phelps explained. “So being able to watch him come back from everything that he went through and get back there one more time was special. It was special.”

The excitement surrounding Jackson’s full return from injury mirrors the high hopes of the fanbase, eagerly anticipating a full, healthy season for the dynamic quarterback. Phelps’s ties to the team are more than just cheering from the stands; he recently spent time at the Ravens facility, even giving swimming lessons to players like Marlon Humphrey, demonstrating his commitment to his hometown community and to water safety through the Michael Phelps Foundation.

The Hundredths of a Second: The Swimming Barrier for NBA Stars

Shifting gears to a unique crossover challenge, Phelps was asked which NBA player he thought could possibly make the transition from basketball to competitive swimming, leading to an amusing tangent about the biggest star he’s personally coached: Shaquille O’Neal. The question gave the 28-time Olympic medalist pause, underscoring the extreme technical difficulty of his sport.

“Oooohhh. I don’t know. I really don’t. It’s a completely different sport,” he mused.

Phelps recalled his time working with the iconic center during the reality series Shaq VS. to illustrate the difficulty, yet potential, of the transition for athletes possessing unique physical gifts and body awareness.

“I’ll say I watched Shaq come a long way after working with him for 1 week when we did Shaq VS. and it makes me believe that kind of once they put something into it, their body awareness is there and so I think that over time they could get good,” Phelps conceded. He gave the NBA champion credit for his rapid improvement in the pool.

However, he emphasized that the margins in elite swimming are nearly invisible, which ultimately makes the switch to world-class competition nearly impossible. “But I don’t know how good it can be, right? Like we’re literally working in hundredths of seconds.” For Phelps, the dedication required to gain those tiny fractions of time is simply unmatched in most other sports.

Beyond the Pool: Phelps’s Mental Health Advocacy

While Phelps continues to follow the world of sport, his focus in this post-competition chapter of his life has shifted dramatically toward advocacy. Having publicly shared his own struggles with depression and anxiety, the Olympic icon has become one of the most prominent voices in the mental health space.

Through the Michael Phelps Foundation, he works to promote water safety, physical wellness, and mental wellness—teaching children not only how to swim but also how to cope with life’s challenges. His mission, as he has often stated, is to normalize conversations around mental health, proving that even the most accomplished athletes are not immune.

His passion for this cause is clear: “The feelings that I have, I had, what I go through every single day, every single week, every single month. I know I’m not alone and I understand that for me it’s OK to not be OK,” he has previously stated.

For Michael Phelps, his life today is a careful balance of family, foundation work, and, of course, cheering on his Ravens and Orioles. As Lamar Jackson takes the field following his recovery, he can be sure that the most decorated Olympian in history will be watching—and probably crying tears of joy again should the next Super Bowl parade roll through Baltimore.