Michael Phelps has said that being an Olympian is similar to being a royal because the pressure of the job can lead to being depressed and seeing yourself as ‘not human’.
Phelps, 36, who is the most decorated Olympian of all time with 28 medals, spoke to PARK magazine as he attended the Hope for Depression Research Foundation luncheon seminar in New York this week.
In the interview, the Baltimore-born swimmer revealed how when he was competing he was ‘not a human’ and just saw ‘someone with a cap and pair of goggles on’ as he compared his struggle to that of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Phelps has previously talked about the need for mental health resources for Olympic athletes. In 2018 he revealed he suffered with depression himself and contemplated suicide after the 2012 London Games and his first retirement.
‘I think the biggest thing is to try to be your authentic self, like being able to show when you’re going through a struggle is something that is more powerful that we can ever understand,’ he told PARK magazine.
Michael Phelps has said that being an Olympian is similar to being a royal because the pressure of the job can lead to being depressed and seeing yourself as ‘not human’
‘It shows you, you are a human being, and for me I thought that I was a swimmer and not a person, my whole career, I would look in the mirror and saw someone with a cap and a pair of goggles on and not a human being so it took me a while to understand that and once I did, I was able to live free-er and healthier, so I think being comfortable with who you are and being your authentic self is something we should all strive for.
He added that he would have told Princess Diana ‘that everyone’s mental health is different, we all go through our mental health in different ways’.
‘Even though we both (Princess Diana ) and I could be struggling from anxiety and depression, or suicide and all these different things, mental health with every single person looks completely different and the one thing I think that we can look at and we’ve learned.
‘I hope from everything and everyone that we’ve lost, including Princess Diana, hopefully we can learn the importance of opening up and talking about things.
‘I think for so long, people look at when you become vulnerable as a sign of weakness, and I think that is one thing that we need to change.
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‘I think that the idea of that is crazy and it’s ludicrous, but I believe that we all need to become vulnerable and give ourselves the best chance to be use.
Harry and Meghan have both been open about their mental health in the past, with Meghan telling Oprah she considered suicide while in the royal family and Harry saying he was ‘severly depressed’ following his mother’s death.
In the interview, the Baltimore-born swimmer revealed how when he was competing he was ‘not a human’ and just saw ‘someone with a cap and pair of goggles on’ as he compared his struggle to that of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (pictured)
It comes as Phelps spoke at the HDRF’s 15th annual luncheon. The seminar focused on ‘The Importance of the Gut Microbiome For Your Mental Health’ and research highlights from the HDRF’s renowned Depression Task Force. The event drew over 280 guests and raised over $750,000 for life-saving mental health research.
Phelps took the stage to speak in a Q&A with Chair Audrey Gruss. about his struggles with depression.
When asked about his first moment of depression, Phelps stated, ‘In 2004 I won eight total medals, six gold and two bronze, and coming back from that is when I first noticed a depression spell.’
He continued: ‘2014 — that was where I found myself not wanting to be alive.’ He went on to speak about entering into a treatment center after hitting rock bottom and feeling it was one of the scariest places he has ever been. He noted that ultimately those 45-days helped him to better understand himself and continuing in therapy is why he was able to stand on the stage today.
Gruss then asked about other athletes such as Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka coming forward about their own experience with depression.
Phelps stated, ‘What Naomi Osaka did on her own platform, in her own words and telling her own story… wow. We can all learn some things from her.’ He continued, ‘All of these athletes and celebrities, these human beings that have stepped up and shared their experience about mental health have been able to save lives.’
When speaking about The Michael Phelps Foundation IM program he went on, ‘I want to give every kid the chance to accomplish their goals or their dreams, no matter how easy or hard it is to get there. It wasn’t easy getting to where I was and it sure wasn’t easy getting back in 2016 with the journey, but it was a dream nobody else was going to stand in front of.’ The audience burst into laughter when Phelps noted, ‘I had people doubting me my whole life. I had a teacher in sixth grade telling me I would never amount to anything… thanks.’#
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Source: Daily Mail
