Michael Phelps is often regarded as the finest Olympian in history.

NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal once challenged Michael Phelps in a swimming race.

American swimming great Phelps is often regarded as the finest Olympian in history.

The Baltimore Bullet is the most successful and decorated Olympian of all time having won 28 medals across four games.

Phelps holds the record for the most Olympic gold medals(23), most Olympic gold medals in individual events(13) and most Olympic medals in individual events(16).

Back in 2009, during the reality TV show Shaq Vs., O’Neal took on Phelps in a series of three races where a bet was also made.

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The loser was required to do anything at the discretion of the winner.

Inside the Mangione Aquatic Center at Loyola University Maryland, O’Neal managed to beat Phelps in a freestyle race.

The NBA great had to swim 25 yards whilst Phelps had to cover 50 yards with a five-second head start.

Eventually, O’Neal did his race in 23.14 seconds and Phelps clocked a time of 24.03 seconds.

Back in 2021, O’Neal reportedly had a net worth of $400 milliob but revealed that he will invest in his children instead of just handing them the money.

He told Earn Your Leisure: “My kids are older now. They kinda upset with me – not really upset – but they don’t understand. Because I tell them all the time. We ain’t rich. I’m rich.

“You’ve got to have Bachelor’s or Master’s [degrees] and then if you want me to invest in one of your companies, you’re going to have to present it… bring it to me, I’ll let you know. I’m not giving you nothing.”

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He continued: “There’s one rule: education. I don’t care if you play basketball. I don’t care about none of that.

“Listen, I got six kids. I would like a doctor, somebody to own a hedge fund, a pharmacist, a lawyer, someone that owns multiple businesses, someone to take over my business. But I tell them I’m not going to hand it to you. You gotta earn it.”

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