Michael Phelps taught several of the Baltimore Ravens how to swim after the team asked the 28-time Olympic medalist to coach them last month.
Phelps arrived at the Ravens’ training center a couple of weeks after four players asked him for swimming lessons for the team, as just one in three Ravens knows how to swim.
TODAY got an exclusive look inside the lessons from the 23-time gold medalist — and lifelong Ravens fan — starting with a pre-swim pep talk, safely on the shore.
“It’s what you do behind closed doors that no one sees that gives you the opportunity to stand out on this field every single week during the season and be great,” Phelps told the players.
The swim lessons all started when cornerback Marlon Humphrey posted a video on Instagram on July 29 with three of his teammates.
“Hey Mr. Phelps, we have a problem,” offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley said in the video, before doing a graceful side-dive into the water, revealing more players behind him.
“Did you know that one in three Ravens cannot swim?” safety Kyle Hamilton asked.
More players asked for Phelps to come to their aquatics center to teach them how to swim, and the Olympian answered the call.
“I got yall!!! Let’s do it!!” Phelps wrote in a comment on the post.
On Tuesday, Aug. 12, the team headed toward the pool, where Phelps told TODAY’s Craig Melvin how he planned to teach football players how to swim and be safe in the water.
“Start with baby steps,” Phelps said. “I know it might sound crazy, but try just blowing bubbles in the water … become more vulnerable.
“I think that’s something that a lot of people are afraid of. And instead of being one foot on the boat, one foot on the dock, jump right in. Literally, jump in. Come jump in with me,” he added.
Phelps has been a water safety advocate for years, launching the Michael Phelps Foundation in 2008 to help kids and adults learn to swim.
Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages one to four, and about 40 million adults in the U.S. don’t know how to swim, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Phelps, a father of four, said he remembers the fear during his first swimming lessons clearly.
“When I first got into the water to swim, Miss Cathy was my teacher, and I didn’t want to put my face under,” he said. “Yes, me, Michael Phelps, afraid to put my face into the water. But naturally, you overcome those fears based off your confidence and your comfort level in the pool.”
Phelps brought the famed Miss Cathy to help teach the Ravens.
“I’m hoping that everybody is brave enough to give it a try,” Miss Cathy told the players.
Phelps added: “Let’s get in the water and learn how to swim!”
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In addition to the Ravens, 10 children from the Boys & Girls Club were learning how to swim right alongside them.
Stanley said he took part in the video because he thinks swimming is a life skill that everyone should have.
“We want our teammates to be able to have that skill,” Stanley said. “And, you know, maybe it’ll save someone’s life one day.”
And after the lessons wrapped, the Ravens had a surprise in store for Phelps.
“Your foundation does great things on mental health awareness and also water safety. We’re going to donate $100,000 to the Michael Phelps Foundation,” said Sashi Brown, president of the Ravens.
The Ravens are set to play their first game of the season against the Buffalo Bills at 8:20 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 7.