Fanzone || Encounters

Tori's "Swim with the Stars" Tour encounter - Baltimore, MD
Sarah's "Swim with the Stars" Tour encounter - Penn State University
Gina's "Swim with the Stars" Tour encounter - Hempstead, NY
Julianna's "Swim with the Stars" Tour encounter - San Francisco, CA
Kacy's "Swim with the Stars" Tour encounter - Disneyland
Maggie's "Swim with the Stars" Tour encounter - Portland , OR
Emily's "Swim with the Stars" Tour encounter - Disneyland
Tiffany's "Swim with the Stars" Tour encounter - NYC
Alli's "Swim with the Stars" Tour encounter - Disneyland
Justine's Toyota Southern California Grand Prix encounter - Long Beach, CA

"Swim with the Stars" Tour - Baltimore, MD
I met Michael in Baltimore at the "Disney's Swim with the Stars" event. Yes, I paid the extra $100 to have that chance, but I tell you it was worth every last cent.

I had just met Lenny Krayzelburg and was waiting for Ian Crocker to come around when Michael left the pool area and showed no signs of coming back. I was crushed since I also wanted to meet Michael along with Lenny and Ian.

After my breif meeting with Ian, I had asked the woman next to me if she knew if Michael would be back. She didn't know, but asked someone else and he said he would make sure Michael came by before he actually left. Yay!

So, a few of us waited around and Michael did actually come over to sign autographs. He was very sweet with the kids and was very down to Earth. He signed my Vanity Fair magazine and posed with me for a picture, where it actually looks like a smile and not a forced one for the press. He then said "I hope you enjoyed the show", which he was saying to everyone, but still made it sound like I was the only person in the crowd. Or, I could have imagined that part! lol!

Anyway, Michael was very kind to me and I was worried since I've heard some horrible stories about fans meeting him. He seems like a great guy and I hope to run into him again some day.
Submitted by Tori // Back to Top

"Swim with the Stars" Tour - Penn State University
I met Michael Phelps at Penn State University. He was amazing. Seeing him Lenny and Ian together put the biggest smile on my face. The show was fantastic and me and my best friend Keri were screaming out heads out. They knew we were the loudest because they kept smiling at me. I love MIchael Phelps like crazy. He is my idol and i have like a billion pictures all over my room. But anyway the show went great and after the swimming partt was the Q & A. I was one of the lucky few people to ask them a question. I asked them what they had for Breakfast this morning. Them 3 laughed and everyone in the stands were laughing too. MIchael said that he had 2 breakfast's it was funny. After that I was V.I.P so i got to meet and talk to Michael, Lenny, and Ian it was awesome. They are awesome and ilove how their promoting the sport..I love swimming also and my favorite sport is butterfly :-). its been since i was 7 and i love it.
Submitted by Sarah // Back to Top

"Swim with the Stars" Tour - Hempstead, NY
i went to the disney swim with the stars tour in hempstead, ny on sept. 8 2004 featuring michael phelps, lenny kraselburg and ian crocker and this is my INCREDIBLE story lol.....

ok it all started when i got off the bus from school around 2:30..i got home and my mom was suppose to come and pick me up but she wasnt so i had to find out where she was so i called her and she came home and picked me up to bring me to my friends house..I got to my friend shayna\'s house and we made a poster. Well we made it and i spelled to michael name wrong. lol i spelled it MICHEAL...lol so we had to tear it in half and write on the other side lol...so then we were on her way..we were so scared that we wouldnt get there and there would be like no tickets left..we were stuck in traffic and we didnt get there till like 10 minutes before 6:00 (tickets started selling at like 5 and it started at 7) so we got there and we went to the back..it wasnt a long line outside but i guessed ppl were already in...so we went in and no one was...there were like at leats 100 ppl there...thats it! and thats all that could of fit im serious.

so were got our tickets and we stood in line out side. so we were like last and i said man we gonna get bad seats..so were down by the end where they leap off the blocks not bad at all..so then i was like man there gonna come out of the locker room down at the other end because it said locker room and thats what i thought. i was by another dooor that said storage so i was like um not here...next second...MICHAEL CAME OUT OF THE STOAGE DOOR AND I WAS LIKE Oh my God!! lol i was shaking lol so i stood by the line cuz he came back around behind this rope and touched his arm omg he shaved yesterday! haha...

so then he went back inside and they showed like this projection screen presentaion on them lol...and first ian came out and he slapped our hands and he did the butterfly and while that was going on lol lenny was lookin out of the door and i waved at him and he waved back lol. so we watched ian then he got our of the pool and went back in the back and on te wat touching our hand while he was still wet lol...then lenny came out lol and he slapped out hands and he did the back stoke! omg he so good he like was able to be half away out of the water while doing the backstroke so it looked like a motor omg it was sooo cool...

so then we looked back and i saw michael's flipflop lol hangin out the door lol i was like michael and he looked out and i waved but he just peaked and went back in. then lenny went out and he slapped my hand while he was wet and then it was time for michael...OMG SO SEXY ...lol he slidding his hand across mine when we went out and his hand is so soft...omg so amazing...then he did his strokes but i was really payin attention cuz me and shayna were like talking to lenny and ian backstage lol...i felt bad cuz i wasnt paying attention lmao but michael went out of the pool and saw my sign and he smiled lol. so then he went back in and they all came out with towels around there head like boxers do lol...and ian came out lol and he slapped my hand so hard!! and i was the only one who got a hand slap lol then lenny and he slapped me and shayna's hand then michael phelps and he i felt his hand...damn that boy got some soft hands!!! lol...

then i held up my sign and michael kept lookin over at me and smiling about the sign! i was laughing like crazy lol...then they did some race and ian won lmao and then he got back out. i felt bad cuz lenny was lookin at the sign and was like where\'s mine?? lol so i screamed i love michael some more and he looked agian and smiled. then he ha his watch on him or something so michael went under the rope by me and i said michael!!! and showed his the sign and he smiled agian lmao. then they had question amd answer askin dumb question\'s like \"do ne of you have girlfriends??\" . but so michael went on the other side where the 100 dollar seats were and ian and lenny went in the crowd on the other side im like umm why arent they coming over here so ian came over and stopped and signed like 2 autogrpahs and one was me! lol he signed my hat im like \"ian can u sign my hat?\" and he said \"yep!\" and he did! haha while he was wet haha then the kids from the local swim club or w/e were swimming with the team and while they were going over there michael AGIAN was smilling at the me lol but i didnt look my friend had to point at me lol so then they did that and ian won agian lol.

so then it was time go inside and they did then we waited for autographs aND THEY were like NO THEY NOT COMING OUT SO IM LIKE OK LETS FIND THE BUS...next minute they came out every1 rushed over and i was like lenny!!! sign my hat and michael came out and i was like michael and he looked up at me and was getting like mobbed by 12 year olds lol..then he went under the bleachers and i followed and the bodyguard person was like WAIT HE WILL COME lol stupid of me he was right in front of me and i didnt jump on him i would of asked for a hug and he would of gave it to me but i didnt lol...so then i waited on the other side waiting and waiting and seeing him hug these girls (they were like my age 15 16) and kissin them on the cheek and im like oh god lol...so then he finally came over and the guy was like no more..! so i went up to michael while the body guard was trying to open the door and michael was kinda free and im like \"here this is for you\" giving him this noet that i made for him with my address and e-mail on it. and he said \"thanks\" and smiled and looked into my eyes! woo sexy lol and everyone looked at me! lmao i should of asked for a hug but agian i didnt....so me and my friend went over to ian since he was still out and i took a picture with him and shyana and i asked for a hug and his body is so soft lol. so then i went outside and ran after the bus and michael was already on...too late. then we started walking and ian came out and im like "BYE IAN!" and he waved goodbye...man this was a crazy night i ran all around the damn place lol...BUT THEY R SO NICE! THE NICEST GUYS I EVER MET! lol..but i had an amazing time and i hope michael writes me back or even e-mails me...that would be great!!! he still hasn;t ugh! lol...I LOVE THEM ALL NOW...MICHAEL IS STILL #1 BUT IAN AND LENNY R RIGHT UP THERE TOO...LOVE YOU GUYS! MUAH!
Submitted by Gina // Back to Top

"Swim with the Stars" Tour - San Francisco, CA
Jenna, Steph and I went to see the swim with the stars but it was sold out. We figured since we'd wasted the time driving we were going to meet them anyways. We hung out a bit, Ian crocker came out, everybody hella dissed him it was evil they were like who is that? stupid. lol anyways we said hi, he was in a hurry so we didn't bother him much. Michael walked out next it was great everyone went bopper, he was being rushed too it was cool though we figured we'd just wait and went to watch the show from the side. Talked to some interesting people, the reporter guy thought we were quite the story! Steph got a bruised tummy. haha. After a while we went and chatted it up with the bus driver, he told us they ate in and out burger, ooh! haha. So we waited a while the meet and greet finally ended and they came out they were really rushed so we said fuck that we're going to the hotel, we knew they were staying 'cause we got some inside info! *tb, lmao*..anyways we drove to SF, got out at the hotel and there was one other car with us they ended up getting screwed 'cause they didn't park fast enough, one of these hot guys came out and he's like "who are you here to see??", we were like phelps and ian! So next thing you know the bus driver stumbles out and goes "oh yeah they're cool, they were there all night". so michael walks over and signs my pic and takes pictures with us! thank god jenna is fast with the camera I got a solo!! WOO HOO dude I was freaking out he's so hot. I could only manage to tell him "congrats on all your accomplishments", and he was like "thank you!" so hot damn i can't believe it i'm still bopper over him!! Ian came out next and we were like what's up can we get a pic?! he's like of course!! so he took one it came out blurry, lmao the bus driver took it damn him!! Oh well it was fun times, and I cannot wait til the next event!
Submitted by Julianna // Back to Top

"Swim with the Stars" Tour - Disneyland
I finally got to see Michael at the Swim with the Stars event in Anaheim at Disneyland on Tuesday October 5th... unfortunately, unlike the other events, this one did not offer VIP or meet and greet or any of that, so I figured it would be really hard to see him... more or less get him to see me.

Anyway, I stayed up till 4 in the morning the night before with two of my girlfriends from work making shirts for Michael, Ian and Lenny (the front said I love Michael, I love Ian, etc. and the back was like a jersey that said their last name across the top, and a big 04 underneath) and then got up at 530 in the morning so we could get to Disneyland nice and early. Me and my friend Dana had to request time off from our professors in advance, and our friend Kari, who is married and has two kids had to arrange for a babysitter and everything.. we were so determined. So we get there by like 815.. and disney opens at 10, and there are already a million people there and the line goes on forever and ever, but we finally get in. But of course, all the area around the pool is totally packed. I seriously felt like I was going to die... so we just kept walking in circles hoping someone would get up and we could squeeze in.

While were wandering a lady behind me tapped me on the shoulder and said "i just love your shirt!" and when I turned around, I saw one of the corporate ladies from disney walking with mrs. phelps. The disney lady was the one that pointed out the shirt and when I turned, Mrs. Phelps was like, 'oh my gosh...im sure he'll just love it' and I said thank you and then they disappeared into the friends and family section. So I still didn't have a place to stand and time was going by pretty quick so Kari decided we should grab a table at the little cafe on main street and hope we could catch a glimpse. I honestly thought at the time, that it was the worst idea ever, but I took my chances and we stopped and ordered some breakfast.

Finally we heard the parade coming and there was Michael, Ian and Lenny! When they got up on the stage/platform I had the most perfect view ever. From the cafe I could stand on my chair almost directly behind his mom and see everything. After they swam, all the little pre-teen girls went nuts and were screaming there brains out and it was so cute. While we were just standing there, Michael looked over and noticed my shirt and laughed and walked the other way and grabbed Lenny, who looked over and started smiling like crazy. Lenny walked over to the edge and started flaggin down my friend who was totally day dreaming (she was having her big moment and didn't even notice!) so we were like "DANA!!! lenny wants you!" and she looked over and he waved at her and he waited for us to get a picture.

During the press conference was the best part because people had started to disperse and we just stood there casually (even though I felt like my heart was going to die it was beating so fast) and lenny could not stop smiling and waving at dana and Michael kept looking over his shoulder and smiling... and I thought maybe I was dillusional. Of all the hundreds of people there, I highly doubted he could be noticing me... until the ladies at the table next to us asked me if I knew them. When I said no, one lady was like "well he sure is noticing you honey, look at those boys flirt" and my waitress was like "oh honey, you're lucky, hes a cutie". I almost had a heart attack. We even had a 'moment' (how retarded am i?)... i guess he had turned around and was looking at me and i wasn't paying attention so when I turned around and saw him, I just stared back for some reason... and then it turned into this awkward stare so i started laughing and then he laughed and kari took the best picture of him just smiling back at me!

So they left shortly there after to go the at&t store and I didn't get to see him anymore that day.. but after they left a reporter came up to me and the girls and asked if we were friends with they boys. When we said no, she said "oh, i assumed you were because they kept focusing their attention on you" and i said " i think we are just super lucky" and she laughed and just said "maybe you are, or maybe they just really liked you"... thats the best thing anyone has ever said! so she took our picture and thanked us and that was the end of the day
Submitted by Kacy // Back to Top

"Swim with the Stars" Tour - Portland , OR
I also met Michael Phelps on the Swim with the Stars tour. I paid the $100 to meet Michael (and Ian and Lenny) after the show.

I have always been a huge fan of Michael, so when I was finally going to get the opportunity to meet him, I was so excited. The weeks and days prior to the event, that was all i could talk about.

So the day finally came to go meet Michael, and I was ecstatic. After the show, all the VIP people went outside and lined up to meet Lenny, Ian and Michael. When we got to the table, Ian was in front, then Lenny, then Michael. I had all three of them sign a picture, and then when I got to the end of the table, I had just Michael sign one. I had a bouquet of red roses and a letter that I wrote to him, and when I gave them to him, he smiled and was really appreciative and sweet. Then I went to get my picture taken with him. When they were done taking the picture, there was still one thing i wanted to ask Michael. Only two days before the event, i had gotten a brand new pair of jeans that fit perfectly, and I had only worn them once before the event. I asked Michael if he would sign my pants. He said sure and asked where, and i said on the back pocket. he smiled and I turned around. My friend got two pictures of it--one of them when he's signing my but, Lenny is looking on! It's hilarious. But I still wasn't done yet. I thanked him and he said it was no problem. Then I leaned in and kissed him on the cheek, and he said thank you "very much." Unfortunately, my friend didn't get a picture of that happening, but she told me that after I kissed him, he had a HUGE smile on his face! That made my day!

So I went to the Swim with the Stars event with hopes I would get my picture taken with Michael, and I came home with 5 autographed items, the back pocket of my pants signed by Michael Phelps, and a kiss ( i gave) that I\'ll never forget!

(and for the record, I am never wearing the pants again! I actually plan on having them framed!)
Submitted by Maggie // Back to Top

"Swim with the Stars" Tour - Disneyland
I was at the Disneyland tour stop! Fortunately I convinced my mom to let me go just this once and she agreed! The night before i stayed up late thinking about the day i would get to meet Michael and Ian and Lenny! Well when it came time to go to disneyland we got there and like the lines were LONG and i didn't think i was going to get a good seat. Since my 2 sisters were in wheelchairs we got seats close to the pool and when i saw close i mean i was like not even 5 ft away from michael and the rest it was AWSOME well i was hoping to get michael, lenny and ians autograph but like they were jammed packed when it came to there schedules! So like i had a lil gift and not i wanted to give to michael but unfortunatly i couldn't hand it to him in person! So one of the disney cast members volunteered to deliver it to him so i wasn't so disappointed. But, i'm still not sure if he got it I hope he did that would be awsome! But when he was driving pass us in the disney mobile train car thing, lol he waved at me and we made full eye contact it was as if the world had disappeared i doubt he saw it that way but still it was AWESOME lol! So i really did have a great time and it was so cool seeing one of my inspirations swimming right in FRONT of me it was the best experience of my life I hope to see him in 2008 in beijing!
Submitted by Emily // Back to Top

"Swim with the Stars" Tour - NYC
The day I met Michael Phelps was the greatest day of my life. It all started when he came to New York for the Swim with the Stars tour. Me and my friends found out what hotel he was staying at and decided to go and stand outside. After standing outside for an hour, we decided to talk with the door men. They said that while we were busy talking on the corner, Michael had been standing outside for almost 10 minutes. I was so upset, because I thought I missed my chance. Boy was I wrong. We stuck around holding high hopes and still talking to the doormen. I was standing right in the doorway of the hotel and all I could see were the shocked looks on my friends faces. I turned around and there he was, standing no more than 3 inches away from me. I was so excited that I actually saw Michael Phelps, but just our luck, he was in a hurry, so he couldn't really talk. I was kind of upset, but I just had this feeling in my gut that told me it wasn't the end.

We walked around the city and ran a few errands and around 3:30 (3 hours later) me and my friend Kathy walked back to the hotel. It was raining, but I wasn't gonna let that stop me. Inside the hotel, we saw Ian Crocker (and of course I knew it was him) so we worked up enough courage to go inside and talk to him. He was so, nice and a pleasure to meet. I told how our mothers wouldn't let us travel to Long Island the day before to see them, and he actually told us they were stopping at Asphalt Green (in the city) the next day, so i was ecstatic! But as great as Ian was, he wasn't Michael! So we went back and stood in the rain and that's when we saw his limo pull up. His bodyguard got out, while Michael remained inside the limo. We begged the bodyguard to tell Michael we were standing outside and he did. And since we were out there in the rain, Michael rolled down his window and signed autographs for us and everything. I thought that was great (little did I know the best was yet to come).

The next day we decided although we had already met Michael, we were still gonna go to Asphalt Green. Once we got in, it was pretty crowded, but we still got good seats (we didn't know about the VIP, so we didn't bring enough money). Once it started I was so excited I was barely able to contain it. Then Michael came out. We held up our big sign, and he saw it and smiled. Later that night he also waved directly at us which was beyond cool. After the show was over, we stuck around and waited for a bit. Again my gut told me I wasn't done yet, so that also kept us there. Towards the end of the meet and greets Michael began signing autographs for people who hadn't had VIP, but me and Kathy were on the second level, and we didn't have time to run to the pool deck, so we screamed to his bodyguard. Instantly his bodyguard remembered us and told Michael we were the same girls from yesterday. Michael looked up and laughed. His bodyguard, told us to meet them on the pool deck so we went. We saw Michael walk by and he told us to follow him...we didn't know where we were going but we didn't care it was with Michael Phelps! We went past all these fans and their parents into the staircase. That's when i realized we were having private time with Michael! He talked for a bit and signed our posters. I gave him a card I wrote and he seemed really happy. He smiled the whole time! That was the best moment of my life!
Submitted by Tiffany // Back to Top

"Swim with the Stars" Tour - Disneyland
It all started after school on Monday October 4th with my friends and our parents..we got to the hotel got ready and went to downtown Disney….

So when we first started walking down downtown Disney we saw this guy who we SWORE could’ve been Michael. (1) Because he was standing right next to Lenny Krayzelberg. And (2) because he had some sort of sandal on. But it wasn’t him. But me and my friend Christina ran all the way down like a LONG way to see him. haha So it was Monday night football and at Disneyland they have this restaurant called 'ESPN Zone' and the sports guy on the local news has a show and the set is inside this restaurant. So of course we went to eat there because it’s kind of obvious. Baltimore was playing...Michael's from Baltimore...Ya. So we were there and we asked the waitress if she knew if they were going to be there and she was like "OMG how’d u know? They're going be on the show tonight. .Only Ian and Lenny though."

anyways we went and ate our dinner and then we see Michael's mom walking down downtown Disney!! and we're like oh crap they're going be coming out soon I bet.. so more time goes by and we're like oh well we'll go to the bathroom and like put lip gloss on and stuff.. And then in comes my friend's mom yelling THEY\'RE OUTSIDE WALKING!! So we RAN out of the bathroom and got all of our stuff for him to sign and I ran over this little kid trying to get out and got this nasty bruise while doing it. anything to see Michael haha So we kept running and caught up to them and we're like "um excuse me Michael. Can we have your autograph?" and then his agent person was like "uh we\'re late for something sorry" but he took it anyways and signed it but he was still walking so he's like here just walk with us while I sign it..OMG!!! WE WALKED WITH HIM!! haha. not really..

but anyways...then we went shopping around while our parents waited to get a table inside so we could see the show because we ate on the patio and the set for the show was inside. so then we were done shopping and our parents were calling us like crazy but we noticed that right as we were walking out of a shop. So we thought oh well we’ll be there in a second anyway lets just talk to them when we get there..Turns out they had gotten a table inside and Ian and Lenny's table just happened to be the one rite next to ours

so we were sitting there and Baltimore lost L and then the show comes on rite after the game…and we were like 5 ft. away from them the whole time…

and the stupid body guards wouldn’t let us go up to them and we were like all pissed because we wanted an autograph!! So after the show…when they were all done…we went up to them while they were eating ((which I felt bad about)) and we were like Ian can we have your autograph? And he’s like “oh sure!!” he was the nicest out of all them.. Michael’s still the hottest though…but then I actually had a semi-conversation with IAN!!! Ian: “how are you guys” Me: “I’m good how are you” Him: “good. Thanks” Me:“sorry I don’t have a very good picure of you” and he’s like “ya its not the most attractive shot is it?” lol. Then I was like ‘oh congratulations!!” Ian: “oh thanks” Me: (after he signed the autograph) “SEE YOU TOMORROW!!” haha then we went up to Lenny and he signed them..but he must have been really tired cuz he wasn’t very up to it. Then after when Ian stood up we were like OH! Can we have a picture with you?? And he agreed to and I got really close to him…haha. And then we left because in order to stay we would’ve had to order like tons of food.

Then we got back to our hotel room and I could not sleep. I was way too excited Michael acknowledged the fact I was alive and that he touched my hand!! Aaah!! Ok so I got up at 6 in the morning did my hair and walked down to the gates..we were the 3rd people there at 7:00…and Michael came out!! And we stared at him for a few minutes while we took some pictures and he stood there and posed so we could take pics.. haha. And he kept twirling around his suit which was a little weird…BUT HE LOOKED HOT DOING IT. Then all of the sudden TONS AND TONS of people came but since we were like the first ones there us and some other people got to open the park…we stood there and yelled “LET THE MAGIC BEGIN!!” and then we did a countdown and darted for Main Street (where the pool was) turns out they were on a balcony watching us and laughing. hah. But we got to the front of the pool and we were right next to where they would walk.. but we still had to wait a long time so we walked over to underneath the balcony they were on and got a pic. Hehe. Then we saw there were like tons of people coming (but we didn’t worry because our friends that we met in line saved a spot for us) and so we were still in the front…then we waited a little longer and they got done with their parade and gave some speeches and crap…then they all came on stage!! And they did speeches!! Only like 30 sec ones tho..and then they got ready to swim and so then they came down this little walkway right where we were…with no shirts on…and we touched their hands.. high fived them.. then they did their race and that was pretty much it..got some good pics of it though. Even some moving ones. And I think he saw my shirt :-D which said “I <3 Mike” and he smiled :-D then we just went on a few rides….then we went back to the hotel to check out and we’re climbing in our car. And my mom goes “ISNT THAT LENNY??!” and hes in the car ahead of us getting in his car! So we ran up to him and got a pic with him…and that’s all that happened.. so fun.
Submitted by Alli // Back to Top

2007 Toyota Southern California Grand Prix - Long beach, CA
i just wanted to tell you that i went to the long beach grand prix yesterday and that it was so exciting. it was the first time that i went to a swim meet. it's a little late i know but it was worth it after all the other times i couldn't go to one. i saw katilin, brendan, ian, aaron, natalie, michael, ryan, and peter. i saw everyone a good amount except for ryan. i saw laughing with kaitlin then he jumped in the pool and disappeared after that but it was really fun! everyone was really nice and everyone swarmed around michael in two seconds and it was quite scary because people almost climbed on top of me and my friend to get to him. some parents are just so scary. my other friend got the last picture before he had to leave. i have to say that i was a little disappointed to not get a picture or autograph but my friend and i felt bad if all the little kids/swimmers didnt go in front of us. so i guess i should feel good about not kicking children out of the way..haha
Submitted by Justine // Back to Top

Have you met or seen Mr. Michael Phelps in person? Feel free to share your story with me and I'll post it right here!