Michael Phelps Fan With Autism Posts Inspirational Note On Olympian’s Facebook Page

by Pablo MenaSeptember 1, 2016, 6:14 pmNews >

Michael Phelps has millions of fans across American and around the world, but one has stood out above the masses after he wrote a note to the most-decorated US Olympic swimmer of all time.

Michael Phelps Fan With Autism Posts Inspirational Note On Olympian’s Facebook Page

Austin Levingston, a 21-year-old autistic man from Great Bend, Kansas, wrote on Aug. 16 a message on the 31-year-old swimmer’s Facebook page, in which he stated his dream to compete in the Olympics as a swimmer. Levingston also told Phelps he will soon be the first person in his family to graduate from college.

The post– which was written as a comment on a picture Phelps shared of himself and fellow Team USA members Katie Ledecky and Simone Biles on the cover of Sports Illustrated as the three most-decorated US Olympians from Rio 2016– has been shared by more than 3,000 people. The young man also congratulated Phelps and called the Olympian his “idol.”

“I know you may not care to read this but you are one of my biggest idols and I’ve been following you for a very long time,” Levingston wrote. “Right now, I am currently going to college and hoping to become the first person in my whole family to get a degree. I am also a swim competitor just like you and I’m hoping to swim in the Olympics just like you someday.”

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Levingston also included side-by-side photos that he says demonstrate the two look alike.

Several people replied to Levingston, telling the young man to keep chasing his dream. Levingston told the Baltimore Sun that he’s not sure if Phelps saw his post.

Phelps finished his Olympic career with 28 medals, including 23 gold. He broke 39 world records since his first of five Games in Sydney in 2000 up until his most recent campaign in Rio last month.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 11: Gold medalist Michael Phelps of the United States celebrates during the medal ceremony for the Men’s 200m Individual Medley Final on Day 6 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium on August 11, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)