Kathmandu— Retired Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps was recently spotted at the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, California, with two of his four sons: Beckett, age 8, and Maverick, age 6. The visit marked roughly ten years since Phelps concluded his decorated career at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, where he amassed 23 gold medals, and offered a glimpse into the possibility of a second generation entering the sport as Beckett showed keen interest in the racing.

Family Visit Sparks Swimming Interest

Beckett and Maverick attended the international meet alongside their parents, Nicole Phelps, while older brother Boomer, 10, cared for younger brother Nico, 2, at home. Throughout the two-day event featuring teams from the U.S., Australia, Canada, and Japan, Beckett closely observed the competitions, receiving informal guidance from Bob Bowman – Phelps’ longtime coach. “Grandpa Bob is giving him some pointers here and there,” Phelps noted.

A Sprinter in the Making?

Phelps described his son's swimming style as leaning towards sprinting, a contrast to his own endurance-focused approach. The family is now exploring coaching options in their hometown of Phoenix for Beckett, though Phelps emphasized he will only support his son’s involvement if it’s something Beckett genuinely wants. “If he wants to be a swimmer, I will support it,” Phelps said. “I will never push him into it. I want him to become his own person. I just hope he has fun.”

Echoes of Phelps' Early Years

Phelps reflected on his own introduction to swimming at age 7 in Baltimore, recalling initial fears of putting his face in the water and how joining a local club helped channel his energy. He sees parallels between his younger self and Beckett’s temperament. “He has a hard time turning the switch off, so when he gets angry, he gets angry,” Phelps explained. “That was the same way I was, so stare at that black line and scream as loud as you possibly can.”

The Phelps family continues to reside in Phoenix, where Beckett’s potential swimming journey is beginning to take shape under his parents' supportive guidance.

(With inputs from AP)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.