Beneath the Surface

My Story

From the most decorated Olympian of all time comes a candid memoir of “adversities overcome and redemption through persistence” (Swimming World).

Having won twenty-eight Olympic career medals, including twenty-three gold, Michael Phelps is one of greatest swimmers in history, and one of America’s most beloved athletes. Yet on his incredible climb to triumph, Phelps faced battles far beyond the countless hours of work in the water.

In his own words, this athlete openly shares his struggles with attention deficit disorder, the trauma of his parents’ divorce, and the challenges that come with being thrust into the limelight. From his first Olympics competition at age fifteen to his last at age thirty-one, Phelps relives all the heart-stopping drama of his journey from being the youngest man to set a world swimming record to surpassing the greatest athlete of ancient Greece. Full of fascinating insights into his training, mental preparation, and behind-the-scenes perspective on international athletic competitions, this is a chronicle of how a life spent in the water gave Phelps the skills he needed to survive on dry land.

With a forward by sports commentator Bob Costas, Beneath the Surface is a must-read for any athlete, fan, or champion of the underdog.