Olympic Hero Michael Phelps Hated His Swimming Coach

Michael Phelps earned a collection of 28 Olympic medals as a member of the United States Olympic Team. He has been called the greatest swimmer of all time.

In a recent talk released on YouTube, Phelps talked about the ups and downs he faced. He said they were unavoidable when you spend so much time with another person.

“There were days when I hated my coach. There were days when we got into fights, we got into arguments, we couldn’t stand what we were doing.”

Phelps said despite the differences, his coach offered him valuable lessons. He said other coaches wouldn’t have known how to challenge him in the same ways. Perhaps he would never have reached his peak greatness without him.

Whatever it was, the relationship just worked. Despite his frequent bouts of hatred towards his coach, Phelps ultimately said everything was always in sync.

“I would do things purposely to piss him off, but that’s a different story. But you know, that was just really how we worked. Like, he was somebody who was so perfect for me that if I ever were to swim for anybody else I never would have had the chance to do what I did because he challenged me in ways and forced my mind to think differently.”

Phelps has recovered from some personal demons to become a father and motivational speaker. The most decorated Olympic athlete in history has finally found inner peace and happiness outside of the pool.

Have you ever had a bad relationship with a coach? Share your experiences in the comments!