Michael Phelps is the youngest of how many children?

Michael Phelps is the youngest of three children. He grew up in the Baltimore area with his older sisters, Hilary and Whitney, both of whom also became competitive swimmers.

The sisters helped introduce Phelps to swimming. He began following them into the pool and joined the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, where coach Bob Bowman later guided his development. Their family’s close connection to swimming made the sport a central part of his childhood.

Phelps’s parents, Deborah and Fred, divorced when he was young, and his mother played a major role in supporting the children’s athletic careers. Because Phelps became so famous, casual accounts sometimes focus on him as though he were an only child, but his two older sisters were important early influences.

The sibling detail also explains why Phelps encountered competitive swimming so young. His rise eventually surpassed that of his sisters, culminating in 28 Olympic medals, including 23 gold medals, across five Olympic Games.