Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian in history with 28 medals, has spoken out again, this time criticising the state of swimming in the United States. Despite his legendary status, Phelps says the system is failing and that he wouldn’t want his children to follow in his footsteps.
Known as “The Baltimore Shark,” Phelps became a global icon thanks to his record-breaking success in the pool, with 23 Olympic gold medals. After retiring at the 2016 Rio Olympics with six more medals, he turned his focus to mental health, wellness, and promoting swimming through the Michael Phelps Foundation.
Recently, however, he launched a strong attack on USA Swimming, saying the organisation is in decline. Phelps pointed out that the percentage of medals won by the US swimming team has dropped from 57% in 2016 to just 44% in 2024, the lowest since 1988.
Even though the US topped the medal table in both Paris 2024 and the recent World Championships in Singapore, Phelps says these results hide deeper problems. “There have always been cracks in the system,” he said on Instagram. “But over the past nine years, they’ve only grown.”
He believes the problem isn’t the swimmers, who still give everything, but poor leadership at USA Swimming. Phelps, who started his Olympic career at just 15 in Sydney 2000, said the sport’s management is letting athletes down.
This isn’t the first time he’s spoken out. In 2024, Phelps also criticised the US Olympic Committee for not supporting athletes’ mental health, saying he was ignored when he struggled with depression and anxiety. “Athletes must come first,” he said in a TV interview.
Elite swimmers go through intense training and strict diets for relatively little reward. The physical and mental pressure is huge, and Phelps has often talked about his own struggles after the Athens 2004 Games, where he won six golds. “You reach the top and ask yourself, ‘What now?’” he said.
He’s not alone. Other swimming nations, including Australia, have also faced criticism over athlete welfare. But in the US, recent issues, like the short-lived appointment of a new USA Swimming CEO and problems within SafeSport, the body that handles athlete abuse cases, have added to the chaos.
Phelps also said there’s a dangerous culture of silence in the sport, where athletes are told to keep quiet and “be grateful.” He added, “I gave everything, but too often I felt ignored.”
Despite all this, Phelps says he hasn’t given up, “I still care, and I’m not ready to walk away. My door is open and there’s work to do.”
Other respected figures like Ryan Lochte and Rowdy Gaines have also criticised the situation, though USA Swimming said their comments were badly timed, especially during the Singapore event when the team was dealing with illness.
Looking ahead to the LA 2028 Olympics, Phelps fears the US might not be ready. Swimming will take place in a specially-built pool inside SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, set to be the biggest Olympic swimming venue ever. But for all its glamour, Phelps warns that if USA Swimming doesn’t improve, the country could face more than just a loss of medals, it could damage the sport’s future.
