Legendary Olympian Swimmer Michael Phelps is blessed to have two equally talented and gifted sisters, Hilary and Whitney, in his life.
The most successful and decorated Olympian of all time, Michael Fred Phelps II, was born on June 30, 1985.
He holds the records for Olympic gold medals (23), individual gold medals (13), and Olympic medals (16).
In the past, Phelps held the world records for the 200-meter freestyle, 100-meter butterfly, 200-meter butterfly, 200-meter individual medley, and 400-meter individual medley long course championships.
Michael Phelps Revealed That His Parents’ Divorce Significantly Impacted Him And His Sisters
Former competitive swimmer Michael Phelps is the youngest child of Deborah Sue Debbie and Michael Fred Phelps.
He grew up in the Rodgers Forge neighborhood of nearby Towson alongside his two older sisters, Hilary and Whitney Phelps.
Their parents divorced early in their childhood, and their father remarried in 2000.
Michael subsequently disclosed that the divorce had a profoundly detrimental effect on him and his siblings and that for a few years following the divorce, he had a strained relationship with his father.
Despite their father’s absence, the Phelps siblings inherited his athleticism and love of sports.
Phelps began swimming at seven, partially due to his sisters’ influence.
Hilary was the first Phelps to enter the swimming pool, and her younger siblings soon followed.
Even though the Phelps siblings indulged in the same sports, they never competed with one another.
They were incredibly supportive of one another and did not have sibling rivalry that may have soured their bond.
Although Michael was the only family member to win Olympic gold, his sisters were constantly rooting for him.
Despite not competing at the Olympic level, the Phelps sisters were content with their abilities.
Hence, this shows that the Phelps siblings share a beautiful and unshakable bond brought together by a shared love of swimming.
Hilary Phelps Celebrated Her 17 Years Of Sobriety This Year!
Born in 1980, Hilary Phelps is a mother, businesswoman, and former reporter.
She gained notoriety as a special correspondent for 11 News during the London Olympics.
In interviews, she revealed that her parents enrolled Michael in swimming lessons to save time commuting back and forth.
Hilary has shown an extraordinary ability to succeed in several pursuits since childhood.
She continuously achieved extraordinary academic accomplishments, with a perfect record of all “A” scores.
Moreover, she became the fastest swimmer in her age group countrywide. But, despite her remarkable achievement at such a young age, Hilary also faced setbacks due to some poor life choices.
Hilary’s life took a dramatic turn when she experienced her first taste of alcohol at 14, significantly impacting her life for 15 years.
Her 15-year drinking cycle left her feeling numb, hopeless, and unsuccessful.
Moreover, her drinking problem heightened when she joined college, partying all the time and blacking out regularly.
“There were so many rock bottoms. I’d be hungover every day at work and just sitting there trying to keep my head up. I had pain in my kidneys. My body physically hurt.”
Hilary Phelps
She even described herself as a “volatile and dramatic” drunk. Not until 2007 did Phelps become aware of her condition.
Despite being a straight-A student and talented swimmer, she believed that she “wasn’t enough” and that getting drunk was an escape to “quiet those voices.”
“It numbed the agony.”
Hilary Phelps
Alcoholism drained the life out of her. Finally, she decided to seek treatment for herself.
Furthermore, she stated that making the decision was stressful because she found solace in drowning in alcohol.
“A lot of people think that alcoholism is a willingness thing. Like, if you really want to quit, you can. But I physically couldn’t stop.”
“My skin started to crawl. I was anxious. Next thing, I’m in the bathroom downing a bottle of NyQuil. That’s what this disease does to you.”
Hilary Phelps
Phelps eventually entered a detox clinic after receiving a reality check from an acquaintance and former drinking companion who quit drinking.
After being prescribed Antabuse, a daily medication that causes extreme sickness and even convulsions after alcohol consumption, she began practicing yoga and going to 12-step programs to address her substance abuse.
“My spirit was gone. The light inside had completely burned out, and I was just a shell of myself, and I couldn’t hold it together anymore. I’m grateful for the people in the rehab and the treatment facility in 12 Steps that helped me find my footing, my voice and spirit again.”
Hilary Phelps
She acknowledges Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) for rescuing her life and keeping her on track throughout the years, teaching her how to cope and modify her attitude about alcohol.
The year 2024 marks Hilary’s 17 years of sobriety. She told Today that she was able to cope with the loss of her father in October 2022 without relapsing.
“My dad and I were exceptionally close. After he died, all I wanted to do was go to a bar and get wasted — to numb the pain. I’m happy. I am finally comfortable in my own skin. Everything got better after I shared my secret. You’re only as sick as your secrets, and now that I’ve let it out, I’m free.”
Hilary Phelps
Her brother Michael’s long-standing mental health advocacy inspired her to share her story with the world.
Phelps claimed that she concealed her challenges and rehabilitation journey due to “fear of not being liked or accepted” by society.
Now, Hilary is the founder and creator of Hilary Phelps Creative and The Right Room, a 12-week elite coaching program.
She is also an addiction recovery advocate, motivational speaker, holistic health coach, and certified yoga and Pilates expert.
Michael Phelps’ Middle Sister, Whitney, Experienced Many Setbacks That Became A Hurdle For Her To Compete In The Olympics!
As mentioned above, athletic prowess runs in the Phelps gene, and Whitney Phelps is no exception.
She has made significant strides in swimming and marathon running. Michael has a lovely bond with his middle sister and fondly remembers her during interviews.
Her outstanding achievements were a source of substantial motivation for him.
And soon, he followed in her footsteps. He also wished for an opportunity to participate in global championships and represent his country at the Olympics.
However, like her older sister, Hilary, Whitney also had her share of health issues.
Michael Phelps’ book, “Beneath The Surface,” delves into his sister Whitney’s weight loss quest.
Despite repeated concerns for her health, Whitney persistently dismissed any problems.
However, Michael eloquently characterized her condition: “She had no body fat.”
In her time, Whitney had been a remarkable swimmer. Her stroking career at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas earned her significant recognition, including holding the American record in the 200m butterfly (1:59.01).
After being named ‘Rookie of the Year,‘ she got her collegiate career off to a strong start.
In 1994, she won the national championship in the 200m fly at 14, demonstrating her competence.
Despite her best efforts, she was unable to advance to the Olympics.
While she finished first in the world in the 200m butterfly at the 1996 Olympic trials in Indiana, she failed to advance.
With two bulging discs and multiple stress fractures in her back, she strained to perform to the highest level of her abilities.
“We get asked that a lot and the only way I know how to answer that is, he’s just Michael to us. We’re just like any other family who’s into sports. We always went to cheer for our brother and we’ll be in New York at the Marathon cheering for Whitney.”
Hilary Phelps
Inevitably, this was a difficult period for the whole family. Michael Phelps once stated, “I think it killed the family.”
According to her LinkedIn profile, Whitney now works as a Special Assistant to the Executive Office at the FDA.
Even though she could not pursue her sporting endeavors, she excelled professionally. In comparison to her siblings, Whitney has maintained a low profile.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Michael Phelps secretly married Nicole Johnson, former Miss California USA, on June 13, 2016. The couple has four sons.
- Phelps revealed in January 2018 that he had suffered from ADHD and depression and that he contemplated self-harm after the 2012 Olympics.
- At the age of 19, Phelps faced charges for driving under the influence of alcohol in Salisbury, Maryland.
- Following the 2008 Olympics, Phelps established the Michael Phelps Foundation with his $1 million Speedo bonus.
