Facebook post from Michael Phelps fan with autism inspires

BALTIMORE — 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.

Austin Levingston's Aug. 16 post congratulating Phelps on his Olympic performance has received more than 3,000 likes. In it, the 21-year-old Kansas man 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.

Levingston tells The Baltimore Sun he doesn't know if Phelps saw his post.