Michael Phelps’ relationship with Special Olympics began when he became an Ambassador for the 2007 Special Olympics World Games in Shanghai, China. In 2008, upon Michael establishing the Michael Phelps Foundation to promote water safety, healthy living, and the pursuit of dreams, Special Olympics and the Michael Phelps Foundation began teaming up to enhance the quality of swimming for our athletes and education for our coaches. Our partnership supports Special Olympics not only by raising the number of certified swimming coaches who support the hundreds of thousands of Special Olympics Swimmers, but, more importantly, raising the standard of coaching provided to them.
The Michael Phelps Foundation’s established IM Program offers a multi-faceted line-up of water safety lessons, recreational aquatic activities, organized swimming, as well as health, wellness, and goal-setting instruction. Through our partnership and in alignment with the IM Program, Special Olympics coaches from over 35 countries, across six continents, have received quality training and education to deliver long-lasting and lifesaving experiences for our athletes and coaches around the world. Through our most recent agreement, support from the Michael Phelps Foundation will help fund the creation of a dedicated swimming staff member to assist in scaling our partnership, expand swimming opportunities for our athletes, amplify swimming competition, and build and strengthen relationships with swimming Sport Federations across the globe.
Please see our most recent collaboration with the Michael Phelps Foundation and interview with Tim Shriver here.