Baltimore Ravens Players Wanted To Learn How To Swim. They Called On Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps taught several of nan Baltimore Ravens really to aquatics aft nan squad asked nan 28-time Olympic medalist to coach them past month.

Phelps arrived astatine nan Ravens’ training halfway a mates of weeks aft 4 players asked him for swimming lessons for nan team, arsenic conscionable 1 successful 3 Ravens knows really to swim.

TODAY sewage an exclusive look wrong nan lessons from nan 23-time golden medalist — and lifelong Ravens instrumentality — starting pinch a pre-swim pep talk, safely connected nan shore.

“It’s what you do down closed doors that nary 1 sees that gives you nan opportunity to guidelines retired connected this section each azygous week during nan play and beryllium great,” Phelps told nan players.

The aquatics lessons each started erstwhile cornerback Marlon Humphrey posted a video connected Instagram connected July 29 pinch 3 of his teammates.

“Hey Mr. Phelps, we person a problem,” violative tackle Ronnie Stanley said successful nan video, earlier doing a graceful side-dive into nan water, revealing much players down him.

“Did you cognize that 1 successful 3 Ravens cannot swim?” information Kyle Hamilton asked.

More players asked for Phelps to travel to their aquatics halfway to thatch them really to swim, and nan Olympian answered nan call.

“I sewage yall!!! Let’s do it!!” Phelps wrote successful a remark connected nan post.

On Tuesday, Aug. 12, nan squad headed toward nan pool, wherever Phelps told TODAY’s Craig Melvin really he planned to thatch shot players really to aquatics and beryllium safe successful nan water.

“Start pinch babe steps," Phelps said. "I cognize it mightiness sound crazy, but effort conscionable blowing bubbles successful nan h2o ... go much vulnerable.

“I deliberation that’s thing that a batch of group are acrophobic of. And alternatively of being 1 ft connected nan boat, 1 ft connected nan dock, jump correct in. Literally, jump in. Come jump successful pinch me,” he added.

Michael Phelps teaches Ravens' players really to swim.TODAY

Phelps has been a h2o information advocator for years, launching nan Michael Phelps Foundation successful 2008 to thief kids and adults study to swim.

Drowning is nan starring origin of decease for children ages 1 to four, and astir 40 cardinal adults successful nan U.S. don’t cognize really to swim, according to nan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Phelps, a begetter of four, said he remembers nan fearfulness during his first swimming lessons clearly.

“When I first sewage into nan h2o to swim, Miss Cathy was my teacher, and I didn’t want to put my look under,” he said. “Yes, me, Michael Phelps, acrophobic to put my look into nan water. But naturally, you flooded those fears based disconnected your assurance and your comfortableness level successful nan pool.”

Phelps brought nan famed Miss Cathy to thief thatch nan Ravens.

“I’m hoping that everybody is brave capable to springiness it a try,” Miss Cathy told nan players.

Phelps added: “Let’s get successful nan h2o and study really to swim!”

In summation to nan Ravens, 10 children from nan Boys & Girls Club were learning really to aquatics correct alongside them.

Stanley said he took portion successful nan video because he thinks swimming is simply a life accomplishment that everyone should have.

“We want our teammates to beryllium capable to person that skill,” Stanley said. “And, you know, possibly it’ll prevention someone’s life 1 day.”

And aft nan lessons wrapped, nan Ravens had a astonishment successful shop for Phelps.

“Your instauration does awesome things connected intelligence wellness consciousness and besides h2o safety. We’re going to donate $100,000 to nan Michael Phelps Foundation,” said Sashi Brown, president of nan Ravens.

The Ravens are group to play their first crippled of nan play against nan Buffalo Bills astatine 8:20 p.m. connected Sunday, Sept. 7.