What Michael Phelps Loves About His Under Armour Ad, and Why He's Never Worn Nike

Our chat with the Olympic legend ahead of his swan song in Rio

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BALTIMORE, Md.—Michael Phelps and Under Armour were, in a sense, born at the same moment.

The performance sports apparel brand was founded here in Baltimore in 1996 by Kevin Plank. That same year, Phelps—then an 11-year-old kid from the Baltimore suburbs—began to train under coach Bob Bowman at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club.

The rest is history.

In 2000, at age 15, Phelps made the U.S. Olympic team for the Sydney Games, and while he didn't medal, he did finish fifth in the 200-meter butterfly.

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