“I will never go there again.” Why is Jordan so afraid of water? The story is very tragic.
Vitaly Vesely September 12, 2024, 10:30 Moscow time
Michael never learned to swim, but he did a lot to overcome this phobia.
Michael Jordan’s figure has literally become synonymous with success for many. Numerous individual awards, NBA titles, lucrative financial contracts, recognition from experts and fans around the world. MJ was fearless on the court and determined off it. But even he was not free from fears, which he carefully concealed behind his brutal appearance. Today we will talk about one of these phobias. “I remember one day talking to Michael about things he was afraid of and I thought he would mention death or serious injury. Instead, he talked about swimming,” said journalist and author of the book “Jordan Rules,” Sam Smith.
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It turns out that the Chicago Bulls legend is very afraid of water. It all started in early childhood. At the age of seven, Michael lost a close friend who drowned before his eyes. The poor man was so desperate for help that he almost dunked Michael into the water. Young Jordan tried to save his friend, but was helpless against the natural elements and disembarked alone.
michael jordan
Basketball Hall of Famer, six-time NBA champion
“One day I went swimming with a very good friend of mine. We were busy having fun and catching waves. At some point, the current got so strong that it swallowed him up. He grabbed me. I think it’s called a “lethal hold.” This happens when a person is on the brink of life or death. I practically had to break his arm… he was going to take me with him. Did I manage to save him? No, he died. I don’t go in the water anymore.”
The experience had a strong impression on Michael, and from then on he began to be very careful around water. When Jordan went to a baseball camp for children a few years later, he avoided the pool, unlike other children. And over time, Michael’s fear of water did not weaken, but rather grew stronger. When the future legendary player was studying at university, his girlfriend drowned.
Later, the basketball player repeatedly admitted that he was afraid of water and tried to stay away from it as much as possible. “I will never go into the water again. Everyone has a phobia of something. I stay away from water.” His son Marcus said that Michael never learned to swim and that if he suddenly fell into the water, he would drown. But Jordan is not a man who gives up in the face of difficulties. Step by step, Michael moved towards overcoming his old fear, bringing his victory closer to the psychological trauma of childhood.
Michael Jordan’s yacht, 2022
Photo: Fabrizio Villa/Getty Images
He started going to sea on boats (“Only big ones, no small ones, and he definitely needs a life jacket”). And then he bought several yachts, including one particularly luxurious one, which, as the media wrote, cost him $80 million. And although the legendary athlete admits that he is still afraid of water, this long-standing phobia has become less formidable for him. MJ continues the fight, because retiring is not in his rules.
