Michael Phelps in Awe of Djokovic?

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Michael Phelps in Awe of Djokovic?

Phelps x Djokovic, this team might be unbeatable at Water Tennis 💦🎾 (Photo @scottleightman) pic.twitter.com/6UelzINX6u
— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) August 3, 2016

Let the games begin. Or, shall we say, the games before the Games.

There’s nothing like a meeting of legendary athletes, where each icon is genuinely in awe of the other. That’s what happened today in Rio as American swimmer Michael Phelps (most decorated Olympian of all-time, not much to see here) went up and introduced himself to 12-time major champion Novak Djokovic.

USA Today’s Nick McCarvel was able to chat with Phelps and get the American’s take on Nole after the two got acquainted in Rio.

“I said to myself, ‘I’m going to say hi, I don’t care,’” Phelps told press, according to McCarvel. “We ended up talking, talking about the event schedule. When he’s competing, when I’m competing. [Djokovic is] super nice. Super down-to-earth. Easy to talk to. It was something that was cool to see. I’ve watched a lot of his matches on TV and he’s obviously had a lot of epic ones.”

These casual meetings between larger-than-life superstars are part of what makes the Olympics so amazing. And it’s great to know that an athlete of Phelps’ stature is not only dialed into tennis—he also gets what the world No. 1 is all about.

“There are a lot of athletes who I am kind of in awe of, and am pretty amazed by, and he’s definitely one of them,” said Phelps.

There will surely be more fun moments and meeting like this coming out of Rio in the next few days, such as this video of Rafael Nadal loading up on snacks in the Olympic village. Yes, Rafa is clearly in demand for photo ops. Poor guy can’t even get past the cashier without posing for multiple photos. But he does look like he’s having a great time with it. It’s the Olympic spirit!