Debbie Phelps’ son, Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, earned his record-breaking 19th medal in London on Tuesday – a feat the proud mom attributes partly to her two daughters.
“What did you give to your son to have propelled him to be the greatest Olympian ever?” Access Hollywood correspondent Tim Vincent asked Debbie during an interview in London on Wednesday.
“Probably two more women — and that would be his sisters,” Debbie said with a smile, referencing daughters Hilary and Whitney. “I call his sisters the keystone of the family, because if the girls hadn’t swum, this history would not have been made.”
Adding, “Michael just kind of followed his sisters.”
As the proud mom watched her only son earn his 19th medal, she knew she was watching history in the making.
“We talked about that going back in the car last night — we just witnessed history,” Debbie — who is also a paid spokesperson, along with Michael, for Subway — said. “We just saw a record be broken that was 47 years old!”
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