Is Michael Phelps a Michigan fan? Closer look at legendary Olympian's affinity for Ann Arbor

The Texas Longhorns versus the Michigan Wolverines is the marquee matchup of Week 2, and Michael Phelps will be a guest picker for ESPN's College GameDay. The Longhorns, ranked 3rd, will play the 10th-ranked Wolverines in what promises to be an exciting game on Saturday.

While his picks for other games throughout the day might be a mystery, his history with Michigan might suggest a leaning toward the Wolverines in this game.

Is Michael Phelps a Michigan fan?

Phelps is a long-time fan of the Michigan Wolverines because of his connection with Ann Arbor, where the University of Michigan is located. After winning six gold medals at the 2004 Athens Olympics, Phelps trained at the university, spending a lot of time in the town. This led him to develop an affinity for the Wolverines.

Phelps has visited Ann Arbor several times since then. Apart from making his pick for the Texas vs. Michigan game today, in the summer of 2022, he spoke to the Michigan football team about conditioning and recovery, and he was later invited by then-coach Jim Harbaugh to serve as an honorary captain for a game against Penn State.

Did Michael Phelps attend the University of Michigan?

Michael Phelps did not earn a degree from the University of Michigan, but he spent parts of four years there after the 2004 Olympics. Following his coach, Bob Bowman, who was hired by the Michigan swim team, Phelps trained at the university and attended some classes. He was also a voluntary assistant coach but couldn't join officially because of his Speedo endorsement.

Phelps was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He started swimming at age seven before eventually joining the North Baltimore Aquatic Club under Bowman when he was 10. He is a fan of the Baltimore Ravens, so his loyalty to Michigan does not extend outside of college football.

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