Estranged Dad Still Hasn't Told Michael Phelps 'Congrats'

Estranged Dad Still Hasn't Told Michael Phelps 'Congrats'

Michael Phelps’ estranged father Fred hasn’t directly offered his son congratulations or words of any sort since Michael won a record eight gold medals at the Olympics last week, says the New York Post.

 

"He's so busy, I'm sure not even his agent can get a hold of him," Fred told the paper.

 

"I'm very proud of him and all he's done," Fred added, noting that even though he didn’t make the trip to Beijing, he "watched [Michael] every night on TV."

 

"This is not about me, it's about him," the retired Maryland state trooper said.

 

Fred divorced Michael’s mother Debbie in 1992 and relatives tell the Post he’s been “in and out of [his son’s] life” since. The father and son briefly reconnected four years ago, says the paper, when Fred flew to Athens to watch Michael compete in the 2004 Olympic games.

Published 8/20/08 by the Insider

Comments (8)

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  • He found the time to go watch Michael in Athens but can't find the time to go watch Michael In Bejing? Is that a lazy dad or what?!
    MissyF 8/21/08 Reply
  • thats horribe . his dad sould be asamded of him self . his own son won 8 gold medles. Michael hod your head up high you have millions of fan sopporting you And your mom must be the proudest person alive !you did a rocken ob if any thing i so prud I...
    Anonymous 8/20/08 Reply
  • that's so sad. he should at least be able to take a call from his father.
    YodaKnowz 8/20/08 Reply
  • Typical for a father to take credit for something he wasn't a part of. I'm still married and my husband didn't participate in anything our daughters did, but you better believe when they had their crowning moment for something - he was there saying,...
    Grams 8/20/08 Reply
  • that is horrible.Why , if he found time to go to athens , He can't find time to come watch him there?
    Anonymous 8/20/08 Reply
  • who care to him any way
    fadylover1234 8/20/08 Reply
  • MIchael as long as you are proud of yourself and your mother is proud no one else matters. You can hold your head high. You had dreams and you reached and achived . And as one single mom to another, lady you did a great job. As for your dad , don't...
    ladynyc2423 8/20/08 Reply
  • So... about 5 years from now, do we get doping accusations against this guy and try to make him give the medals back? or will he get to bask in the glory for 10 years before we Monday morning quarterback him?
    Anonymous 8/20/08 Reply