Michael Phelps Returns Home To Md. To Provide A Little Inspiration
EDGEWOOD, Md. (WJZ) -- Michael Phelps was out of the pool and back in his home state of Maryland Friday.
The Olympic star may be retired from swimming, but he's just gearing up for his second act, WJZ's Alex DeMetrick reports.
Members of The Boys and Girls Club of Edgewood in Harford County gave Phelps a warm welcome Friday, and he greeted them with a $20,000 check from his foundation. The cause?
"Children under the age of 14, drowning is the second highest cause of death," he told the crowd. "That's something that needs to change."
"This will allow us to put hundreds and hundreds more kids in the pool throughout the summer," said Joe McGovern, executive director of the club.
Phelps also provided a little inspiration to the kids while he was there.
"I want all of you to write down something that you really want to achieve, and write it down and put it somewhere you can see it every single day," he said.
That's what Phelps did as a kid, and he's the most decorated Olympian of all time, so it's probably pretty good advice.
He may have left the sport that made him famous, but he still had the best year ever, he says.
"Everything this year has been amazing -- being able to finish my career exactly how I wanted to, getting married, having a beautiful baby boy... I'm not really sure what else we can fit into the year."
This is a quick trip for Phelps and family. They arrived in Baltimore Thursday night and fly off to London Friday evening.
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