With his king-like presence on the NBA floor, it seems like there’s nothing that can shake MJ’s confidence. However, that’s not the case as the GOAT has a fear of water that resulted from a childhood trauma that scarred him for life.
Jordan carried the phobia into adulthood as a result of this unreported experience. Let’s take an insight into Michael Jordan’s fear and how it affected his outlook on life. We can better appreciate the complexity and frailties of one of the sports’ most recognizable figures by comprehending this obscure facet of Jordan’s life.
Tragic reason behind Jordan’s fear of swimming
Michael Jordan had a commanding presence on the floor that frequently made his opponents nervous. Even Jordan, who felt no fear, had his own worries. Unexpectedly, he had a fear of swimming. Sam Smith, the author of “The Jordan Rules,” revealed that Jordan once confided in him about his phobia of swimming and the sad circumstance that led to it.
Smith claims that Jordan disclosed that he was unable to swim and that he was afraid of the water since he had seen a friend drown. Jordan was left with a lasting impression from this terrible experience, making it challenging for him to feel secure in the water. Not everyone likes swimming, but for Jordan, the traumatic memories he linked with it made the terror even more intense.
Sadly, Smith failed to identify the friend who drowned in his article. Jordan’s phobia of swimming is a reminder that even the most talented people can have vulnerabilities and phobias. It makes Jordan more relatable and shows that, despite his exceptional basketball abilities, he also had his own worries and life events that impacted him.
What did Michael Jordan say about fear?
Over the years, the King painstakingly cultivated his excellent reputation, aware that it all be ruined by a single slip-up. Jordan acknowledged in an interview from 1989 that one of his greatest fears was doing anything that would damage his reputation. He voiced worry about improbable events like robbing a bank, giving in to drug pressure, or making errors that may harm people’s perceptions of him.
The King said that these worries plagued him on a daily basis since he did not want to fall short of the hopes and expectations that other people had for him. Amazingly, Michael Jordan never disappointed his supporters during the course of his career.
He kept his impeccable reputation and avoided any activities that would have damaged it. Even now, in 2023, innumerable young athletes look up to Jordan as a hero and role model because of his commitment, talent, and unshakeable honesty.
Jordan’s concern about damaging his reputation shows that he is aware of the enormous responsibility that comes with success and power. It demonstrates the King’s dedication to sustaining the ideals and values that have made him not only a basketball legend but also a role model for future generations.
