At the end of his swim lessons with the Ravens yesterday, Michael Phelps swam a 25 off the blocks, touching in 9.98, proving that, even in retirement, the GOAT has still got it.
Late last month, members of the Baltimore Ravens posted a video on Instagram revealing that 1 in 3 members of the team did not know how to swim, and they asked Michael Phelps, a well-known Ravens fan, for his help.
He said yes, and they held lessons on Tuesday during the Ravens training camp. Along with the Ravens players, there were 10 kids from the local Boys & Girls club who also participated in the lessons.
Phelps and his son Beckett attended practice before the lesson. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey, the instigator of the Instagram video, told Phelps how he and a few of the other players were in the therapy pool in the Ravens facility, and someone on the outside mentioned they did not know how to swim. After hearing that, Humphrey began asking around and discovered that there was a significant number of players on the team who did not know. One of them said “I’m from New York. I don’t need to know how to swim, but if Michael comes, I’ll learn.”
What started as a video @marlon_humphrey posted on social media…
resulted in a donation of $100,000 to the @MichaelPhelps Foundation 💜@TODAYshow pic.twitter.com/gdn9UpW7aE
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 13, 2025
The team made the journey to Loyola University Maryland pool where the lessons took place in the Mangione Aquatic Center, a 14 lane 25-yard pool with a diving well. Phelps brought a few members of the Michael Phelps Foundation to help him teach, including the woman who taught him to swim, “Miss Cathy”.
Before the lessons started, Phelps thanked the players for learning. “Thank you guys for taking this step in being vulnerable. You guys getting in the water could potentially save and change somebody else’s life in a positive way.”
Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1-4 and the second leading cause of accidental injury deaths in children ages 5-9. Around 70% of NFL players are Black, and around 37% of Black adults report not knowing how to swim, according to the CDC. That’s more than double the percentage of all adults who report the same (15%).
Ravens Editorial Director Ryan Mink captured some of the day in videos that he posted to ‘X’. Phelps features in a few, helping teach guys like defensive end Travis Jones how to kick.
Michael Phelps teaching Travis Jones how to swim with the help of a pool noodle = 🥇content pic.twitter.com/SIfjAbm0wH
— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) August 12, 2025
He also led a group of guys in kicking practice.
Michael Phelps teaching proper kicking form with the guys. pic.twitter.com/K42ivj6J6N
— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) August 13, 2025
Linebacker Roquan Smith learned from members of the Foundation, and he can be seen floating and kicking on his back.
Never stop learning, folks. Georgia native Roquan Smith said he can doggy paddle maybe 20 yards or so, but today he was among the Ravens’ most engaged students learning how to legit swim. pic.twitter.com/u9i7TseUDs
— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) August 12, 2025
Smith was also recorded practicing holding his breath underwater along with a few other players.
Roquan Smith and teammates practicing holding their breath underwater. For someone who didn’t grow up swimming, this is courage and leadership. 👏 pic.twitter.com/zsxVehDqgH
— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) August 13, 2025
They ended the lessons with a diving competition and a few 25s off the blocks. In one of the 25s, Phelps dove a 9.98 second 25 underwater. In the same heat, safety Kyle Hamilton swam a time of 14.29.
Michael Phelps stepped back up on the block today and went toe to toe with the Baltimore Ravens in a 25 Free for time…
He’s still got it.
9.98 – Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps)
14.29- Kyle Hamilton (@Ravens Safety) pic.twitter.com/6ncuJAfxfk
— Kyle Sockwell (@kylesockwell) August 13, 2025
At the end of the day, the Ravens donated $100,000 to the Michael Phelps Foundation, which is dedicated to helping families be “more confident and comfortable in the water and in life.”