Michael Phelps Honors Olympic Swim Coach Jon Urbanchek After His Death: 'This Man Is a Legend'

Michael Phelps is celebrating the life of his swimming coach Jon Urbanchek, who died on May 9 at the age of 87.

On Saturday, May 11, the Olympic gold medalist shared an Instagram post to pay tribute to the late Olympic and collegiate swimming coach.

“I’m more grateful for the time I had with him [Urbanchek],” Phelps, 38, began his heartfelt caption.

“I can still hear him saying ‘keep going,’ ‘hey, _____ MOVE!'” the father of four continued, seemingly referring to Urbanchek, who playfully called him names during practice. “Thinking about what he taught me in and out of the pool… one of the most influential people I’ve had in my life… this man is a legend and truly one of a kind!”

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In the post, Phelps shared photos of Urbanchek holding his now 8-year-old son Boomer as a baby and posing with him, wife Nicole Phelps, their family and some fellow coaches. He also included a few selfies of him and Urbanchek enjoying dinner and hanging out together.

“RIP my friend…. ❤️❤️”, the winner of 28 Olympic medals concluded his caption.

According to a press release from the University of Michigan athletic department — where Urbanchek was a former student as well as the longtime men’s swimming and diving coach — Urbanchek died at his home in Fullerton, California.

The late coach, who emigrated from Hungary after the Soviet invasion in 1956, swam for Michigan and later became a coach at the Ann Arbor-based university after graduation, assisting then-head coach Bob Bowman — who coached Phelps during many of his Olympic appearances and during his illustrious professional career.

Jon Urbanchek (left) and Michael Phelps.

Michael Phelps/Instagram

Urbanchek coached Team USA at the 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympics, and served as a special coach in 2008 and 2012. He also coached “a number of World Championships, Pan American Games and other US international teams,” the university wrote.

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“In all, Urbanchek has coached 44 Olympians to more than 20 medals, including 11 gold, six silver and four bronze medals in a total of five Olympic Games, including four world records among his coaching achievements,” the university added.

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Several other major figures in the world of Olympic swimming spoke out after Urbanchek’s death to reflect on his storied career, including seven-time Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky.

“It’s hard to express how much Jon Urbanchek has meant to me since I first met him in 2012,” Ledecky, 27, wrote in a University of Michigan press release. “He was my coach on the 2012 Olympic team and has been a coach, mentor and friend ever since. I learned so much from him.”

“He was a kind and dedicated coach who never forgot his swimmers. I will never forget his dedication to our sport, his humor, his coaching style and his love for Team USA,” she continued of Urbanchek. “He was the coach of coaches. I know all my coaches learned something from him. I’m so lucky to have him on my team … he never stopped coaching me and cheering me on.”

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Source: HIS Education