Michael Phelps is no stranger to the spotlight, having collected a treasure trove of medals throughout his storied swimming career. Now, he is being celebrated for his impact beyond the pool.
Since retiring after the Rio 2016 Olympics, where he capped his career with five golds and a silver to reach a record 28 Olympic medals, Phelps has turned his attention towards philanthropy and bravely sharing his journey with mental health.
Through his foundation, established in 2008, he has funded wellness programs, promoted water safety, and expanded swimming access for children. He eventually expanded to mental health programs, supporting over 100,000 youth through collaborations with Special Olympics by 2022.
Michael Phelps’ Mother, Debbie, Reacts To Olympics Legend Receiving Muhammad Ali Legacy Award
Debbie Phelps, Michael’s mother, raised him and his two sisters on her own after her 1994 divorce. As a dedicated teacher who rose to become the principal of Windsor Mill Middle School in Baltimore, she poured her heart into supporting her children.
Her unwavering presence was felt at every meet, especially as she cheered from the stands during the 2008 Beijing Games.
Debbie shared her reaction as Phelps shared the fact that he won the Muhammad Ali Legacy Award, expressing her praise for her son:
“Congratulations @m_phelps00….such an honor❤️,” she wrote.
First created by Sports Illustrated in 2008, the award was renamed the Muhammad Ali Legacy Award in 2015 to pay tribute to the legendary boxer’s enduring influence. Its recipients have included icons like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, John Cena, and Jack Nicklaus.
Now, Michael Phelps joins their ranks, recognized for his courage in speaking openly about mental health and inspiring others to share their own stories.
Phelps Opens Up About Post-Olympic Depression
Phelps made his breakthrough at the 2004 Athens Olympics at the age of 19, where he won his first Olympic gold medal by recording a then-world record time of 4:08.26 in the 400m individual medley. He would go on to win four more golds and two bronze medals at those Games, which tied the then-record for most medals at a single Olympics.
Despite all this success, Phelps recently revealed in an interview that he struggled a lot mentally after the Games ran their course.
Per Olympics.com, he said, “2004 was my first taste of post-Olympic depression, coming off such a high. It’s basically… you get to like the edge of a cliff, like ‘Cool, now what? Oh, I guess I’ve got to wait four more years to have the chance to do it again.'”
He also revealed that the post-Olympic depression returned after the 2008 Beijing Games, despite his historic haul of eight gold medals.
Phelps has spoken candidly about seeking therapy and learning to see himself as more than just an athlete, reminding the world that even the greatest champions face the same battles as everyone else.
