BALTIMORE: A Michael Phelps fan who has autism has become an inspiration on his own after sharing his dream of competing in the Olympics one day on the swimmer’s Facebook page.
Austin Levingston’s August 16 post congratulating Phelps on his Olympic performance has received more than 3,000 likes. In it, the 21-year-old Kansas man says he’s attending college and hopes to be the first person in his family to get a degree. He also tells Phelps, “I’m hoping to swim in the Olympics just like you someday.”
Levingston also is a doppelganger for Phelps, who grew up outside Baltimore. Levingston included a few pictures of himself which show a strong resemblance to the 23-time gold medallist.
Levingston told The Baltimore Sun he doesn’t know if Phelps saw his post.
PHELPS’ STICK TALK AT RIO OLYMPICS
The most decorated Olympian of all time, swimmer Phelps, offered a name to go with his famous Phelps face Sunday night and it’s one word: Future.
Phelps introduced Future at the MTV Video Music Awards, revealing that he was listening to the rapper and singer’s “Stick Talk” when he was photographed grimacing, hood up, headphones on, sitting in a chair near rival Chad le Clos from South Africa before a race at the Rio Olympics.
{{/usCountry}}Phelps introduced Future at the MTV Video Music Awards, revealing that he was listening to the rapper and singer’s “Stick Talk” when he was photographed grimacing, hood up, headphones on, sitting in a chair near rival Chad le Clos from South Africa before a race at the Rio Olympics.
{{/usCountry}}The moment grew into a trending hashtag (Phelpsface) on Twitter during the games.
Live from Madison Square Garden, Phelps wore a white shirt, black pants and black jacket to fawn over Future before the Atlanta artist performed.
“I was in the zone with Future’s track ‘Stick Talk’ blaring in my headphones,” Phelps explained of his now-famous grimace. “I might have a lot of golds but this guy’s got a lot of platinum.”