Fourth-Place Medal, a Yahoo! Sports blog covering the Summer Olympics in Beijing

Fourth-Place Medal

Wed Aug 20, 2008 2:25 pm EDT

The mystery of Michael Phelps' missing father

By Chris Chase

During Michael Phelps' races, camera shots of his mother Debbie were a fixture on NBC. The network showed endless replays of her falling to her seat after that memorable 100 butterfly finish. She even watched one race on camera with Cris Collinsworth, squeezing his knee the entire time. And after her son won his eighth gold medal, Debbie was all over NBC getting interviewed by Bob Costas, Matt Lauer and Meredith Viera. Michael's sisters, Hilary and Whitney were also in Beijing cheering on their little brother. All this coverage of the Phelps family led to one obvious question from our readers: Where was Dad?

It's been well-documented that Debbie and Fred Phelps divorced when Michael was 9. Beyond that, little else has been publicized about Michael Phelps' father. Enter: Fourth-Place Medal's Investigative Unit. Today the FPMIU looks into the mystery of the whereabouts of Michael Phelps' father.

Fred Phelps is a retired Maryland State Trooper, lives in a suburb of Baltimore and has remarried since divorcing Debbie Phelps in 1993. According to the Baltimore Sun, he watched the Olympics from his home, saying he was "on pins and needles" every time Michael dove into the pool. But, the New York Post reported that Fred has yet to call his son to congratulate him on his Olympic accomplishments.

Following the divorce, Fred Phelps had little contact with his son. Prior to the 2004 Olympics, Michael told a reporter that his father hadn't even called to congratulate him when he set his first world record. However, the two reconciled prior to the Athens Games and Fred even made the trip to watch his son win six golds and two bronzes. Since then, however, the relationship has reportedly fractured.

Fred Phelps declines most interview requests, citing a desire to have the focus remain on his son.

Mystery: solved.

The FPMIU doesn't usually delve into such serious subjects, but when help is requested, we fly to the rescue like Batman. Send us a bat signal by leaving your unsolved Olympic mysteries in the comment section. Thanks to The New York Post and Baltimore Sun for assisting in our investigation.

Photo via Getty Images

Related: Olympic Mystery Solved

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10425 Comments

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  1. Blame the IOC
    1. Posted by Blame the IOC Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:03 pm EDT

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    Take a bow dad . . . Austin Powers.
    Irresponsible low life IMO.
    Go Michael Phelps. You are the greatest swimmer.
  2. bigboo's bro
    2. Posted by bigboo's bro Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:38 pm EDT

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    How about looking into the mystery of the missing uniforms of the women's beach volleyball competitors?
  3. Brofins
    3. Posted by Brofins Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:01 pm EDT

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    Chris Chase is a toolbox huh Chris?
    That's funny
  4. Brofins
    4. Posted by Brofins Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:01 pm EDT

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    Sorry Chris I was meaning the post #5...That was a good post
  5. Kat
    5. Posted by Kat Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:47 pm EDT

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    Fred Phelps' loss.
  6. gary h
    6. Posted by gary h Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:06 pm EDT

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    I applaud the father for not doing interviews etc..and saying focus on the the kid....will no one give hime credit for that?
    Had he not been asked....it would not be an issue.
    things happen in life, at least this father gives the spotlight to the kid.
    it is a two way street, the father and son are both adults.
  7. Sharon S
    7. Posted by Sharon S Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:38 pm EDT

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    Kudos to Michael Phelps who unlike a lot of people, has risen above the potential damage a relationship of this sort could do to a kid. Most people use this as an excuse to act like idiots their whole lives instead of doing as Michael has and not let it impact his life in a negative manner. This loser should be totally ignored and given no credence what-so-ever. I bet he never paid child support either.
    GO MICHAEL....YOU ROCK!!!!
  8. theREV
    8. Posted by theREV Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:47 pm EDT

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    I too am glad that the father choses not to give interviews so the spotlight can remain on his son's accomplishments.
    Those of you who are hard on the guy have never been in a situation like he has so do not judge him too unfairly.
  9. blueeyes_greeneyes
    9. Posted by blueeyes_greeneyes Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:09 pm EDT

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    Good call gary
  10. Nick D
    10. Posted by Nick D Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:39 pm EDT

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    how do the pole vaulters get their poles to China???????
  11. blueeyes_greeneyes
    11. Posted by blueeyes_greeneyes Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:09 pm EDT

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    That's over the line. Knock it off
  12. gary h
    12. Posted by gary h Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:06 pm EDT

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    21 how do the pole vaulters get their poles to China??????? Nick D posted on Wednesday, Aug 20, 2008 3:41 pm EDT
    --------------------------
    --------------------------
    I wondered the same about the horses.....good Q.
  13. justin
    13. Posted by justin Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:30 pm EDT

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    As long as his father's heart is with him.
    BTW, see this,
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Kexin He is age 14; Nastia Liukin is a Russian
    Kexin’s passport has age 16; Nastia’s passport is American
    Documents can’t change one’s face; Arguments can’t change one’s origin
    It’s wrong to fake the age; It’s a shame to compete for an opposing nation
    Who is the true golden girl in the world – Shawn Johnson
  14. gary h
    14. Posted by gary h Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:06 pm EDT

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    that's over the line. knock it off
    michelle f. posted on wednesday, aug 20, 2008 3:43 pm edt
    ----------------------------
    ----------------------------
    if you mean me...ok ...you may be correct,
    heck, i did not realize i typed that out loud;) .... i thought is was ... just thought it.. .. thses blogs hold too many thoughts .... some of which, maybe should stay in head .... and i mean everyone...
    thank you..i will be try to be good..and not type out loud.
  15. gary h
    15. Posted by gary h Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:06 pm EDT

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    ya gotta admit Shawn Johnson is a cutie pie.
    She looked very happy, even before she won gold,whata smile:)
    yes she is THE Golden Girl:).
    PS
    see? I would rather be positive:) and it does feel better, as long until someone ..... uhmmm ..... OK oK:)
  16. gary h
    16. Posted by gary h Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:06 pm EDT

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    please delete my "thought" in 19..and this one too..I was bad.
  17. Jillian K
    17. Posted by Jillian K Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:50 pm EDT

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    With the invention of the new bathing suits that cover most the swimmers' bodies, do the men still find it necessary to shave their chest and leg hair?
  18. jbfan
    18. Posted by jbfan Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:24 pm EDT

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    Poor looser!! Probably regrets leaving now.
  19. jbfan
    19. Posted by jbfan Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:24 pm EDT

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    Do you really need to know the answer to that Jillian K?! LOL!! JK!! Probably not.
  20. Mickey D.
    20. Posted by Mickey D. Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:14 pm EDT

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    Another mystery (besides dressage scoring, and why it's even in the olympics): Why do male swimmers have their goggle straps UNDER their caps, but the female swimmers have them OVER theirs?
    Do they not want them to tangle in the hair?
  21. gousa
    21. Posted by gousa Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:44 pm EDT

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    I am a huge Phelps fan as many others, but not once did I think about his father.......it this really news???
    Let Phelps enjoy his success and let's not pry into his life now as the press will start to do. Some people, athletes, celebrities like to have some areas of their life private.
  22. Gina J
    22. Posted by Gina J Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:09 pm EDT

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    Never mind this. What about the New Zealand players getting suspended because their underwear color didn't match their uniforms? Talk about silly rules.
  23. Jimmy C
    23. Posted by Jimmy C Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:31 pm EDT

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    Sharon S your a moron. Of course he paid child support he was a state employee. If he didn't the state would take the support straight from his wages. Think before you show how stupid you really are.
  24. pixiebob
    24. Posted by pixiebob Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:53 pm EDT

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    Perhaps The divorce and the absentee dad is what lead Micheal to practice hard enough and long enough to develope these phenominal skills. He may have swam 2 miles warm-up, competition, and warm-down in the olympics; but as any swimmer or swim mom knows....that's half of what a high level swimmer does in a day. Michael worked hard to get where he is. But we don't know all of the motivations.
  25. gary h
    25. Posted by gary h Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:06 pm EDT

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    gary, if you really want to be positive, you should delete your "thought" from your head and appologize to the people you may have offended.
    Chris Chase posted on Wednesday, Aug 20, 2008 4:03 pm EDT
    --------------------------------------
    --------------------------------------
    Chris, you offend people too, and as of right now, I do not see that you have EVER backtracked, let alone EVER appologize.
    I was willing to listen to reason, and correct myself.
    As for you, and others doing it too, I will keep hoping...
    anyway ... practice what you preach bro.
    I see what I see, and I read what I read, and it looks bad.
    But this is not the place for commenting out loud, and I took it back, but it does not mean the danger is not real.
    Lets see how you, and others, do when it is you turn.
    So far I dont see it. Practice what you preach.

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