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Ravens players recruit Olympian Michael Phelps for swim lessons

Ravens players recruit Olympian Michael Phelps for swim lessons

USA Today5 days ago
Baltimore Ravens players have long showed their ability to make waves with their diving catches and swim moves, but many of them don't actually know how to swim.
That's why a group of players turned to an Olympic gold medalist for help.
Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey posted a video to Instagram featuring offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley, safety Kyle Hamilton, tight end Charlie Kolar and himself asking Baltimore-born Olympian Michael Phelps for swim lessons.
"Hey Mr. Phelps, we have a problem," Stanley begins.
"Did you know that one in three Ravens cannot swim?" Hamilton says.
"We have a solution for you, sir," Kolar continues.
"Come to Ravens training camp in this beautiful aquatic center and teach us how to swim," Humphrey concludes.
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"We got a problem that only @m_phelps00 can fix! From the #RavensAquaticsTeam," Humphrey wrote in the caption.
Within hours of Humphrey uploading the video, Phelps shot back a response in the comments section.
"I got yall!!! Let's do it!!" wrote the 23-time Olympic gold medalist.
Phelps was born in Baltimore and is an avid Ravens fan. Hall of Famer and former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis is one of Phelps' close friends and mentors.
It's no surprise Phelps was quick to take up the Ravens' offer to help teach some of the players how to swim.
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USA GYMNASTICS AND NBC SPORTS EXTEND PARTNERSHIP THROUGH 2032
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USA GYMNASTICS AND NBC SPORTS EXTEND PARTNERSHIP THROUGH 2032

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How Camp VC Is Redefining Adventure, Feminism, And Freedom For A New Generation
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How Camp VC Is Redefining Adventure, Feminism, And Freedom For A New Generation

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Along the way, the event has grown into a living model of what Harrison describes as 'completely and utterly by accident'—a kind of community that thrives not in spite of its lack of structure, but because of it. 'It just mushroomed outwards from there.' This unintentional genesis has become one of Camp VC's greatest strengths. 'We approach every different sport or activity in a totally different way,' says Harrison. 'We approach it from, hey, we're not all experts. Come and learn with us.' To date, over 3,200 women have learned to ride motorcycles and more than 800 have taken up skateboarding through Camp VC's grassroots initiatives—most starting with no prior experience. Mentorship flows organically at Camp VC. Beginners learn not just from instructors, but from each other—and from seasoned athletes who show up not to perform, but to participate. 'You can ask questions to everyone from the girl that started the week before, or the non-binary Olympic athlete,' says Harrison. That spirit of shared growth—free of ego or competition—is what makes the learning feel both accessible and profound. Camp VC embodies a shift in feminist thinking—from fighting for space in existing systems to creating entirely new ones. In contrast to past models focused on resistance, this approach is rooted in imagination and construction. The result is an event where participants can try something new without fear of judgment or failure. 'Giving that first taste of what it's like in a non-judgmental environment means everything,' says Harrison. In 2024, 78% of attendees tried something new for the first time, and 93% said they would return. The community is designed for support rather than spectacle. 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