Facebook post from Michael Phelps fan with autism inspires

BALTIMORE, MD -- A Michael Phelps fan who has autism has become an inspiration on his own after sharing his dream of competing in the Olympics one day on the swimmer's Facebook page.


[Ads /]
Austin Levingston's Aug. 16 post has received more than 3,000 likes. In it, the 21-year-old man, from Great Bend, Kansas, says he's attending college and hopes to be the first person in his family to get a degree. He also tells Phelps, "I'm hoping to swim in the Olympics just like you someday."

Levingston also is a doppelganger for Phelps, who grew up outside Baltimore. Levingston included a few pictures of himself which show a strong resemblance to the 23-time gold medalist.
[Ads /]
Levingston tells The Baltimore Sun he doesn't know if Phelps saw his post.