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The Flying Fish, Michael Phelps, doesn’t seem to slow down even after retirement. With 23 Olympic gold medals, the athlete has proved his expertise in swimming. Starting from a very young age, the iconic figure followed his passion for the sport. Furthermore, Phelps is not only a legendary swimmer but also one of the greatest athletes of all time. Nevertheless, nothing in life comes easily and no road is free from obstacles. 

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The athlete once shared his mental struggles with the entire world despite being a public entity. Soon after that, many appreciated Michael Phelps for his boldness, including former bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ex-wife Maria Shriver. 

Maria Shriver’s tweet for Phelps

Sometimes, people help others by helping themselves. This is exactly what happened in the case of Michael Phelps. His voice didn’t only shed light upon his mental health issues, but also played a big role in encouraging many. Several elite sportspersons go through such difficulties every day, every moment, including mental health issues.

However, mental health is an extremely stigmatized topic that people hardly talk about. Nonetheless, the scenario has changed a bit in recent years. Big names like Michael Phelps, Simone Biles, Leonardo DiCaprio, etc., have spoken about mental health multiple times. This turned out to be a ray of hope for the ones going through something similar. 

Bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ex-wife Maria Shriver is also supportive of Phelps’ courage that pushed him to open up. According to Maria, sharing and talking is always a better option than keeping things up.  

She wrote in a tweet, “Bravo to #ArchitectofChange Michael Phelps. The more we share our struggles, the less people feel shame about theirs. Mental health, cognitive health emotional health. It’s all connected. It makes us human.”

READ MORE: “Gonna Have a Heart Attack”: Bodybuilder Struggles to Keep Up With Michael Phelps’ Insane 7000 Calorie Diet Along With Swimming Routine

Humans are emotional creatures. Therefore, it’s normal to have a breakdown, no matter how okay things look from the outside. In fact, what Phelps did shows how strong of a person he is.

Michael Phelps on mental health

No matter how difficult the situation seemed, Michael Phelps never stepped back. He had his back and knew exactly what to do. Even though explaining what someone is going through can be tough, it’s not impossible. 

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I was at a scary place in time and for a long time, I didn’t know how to ask for help,” said the Olympic champion. “I think once I asked for help for the first time, everything became easy.” 

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Watch This Story: Swimming GOAT Michael Phelps dazzled his fans by sharing his stunning workout on Instagram

Definitely, it’s not an easy process, but it’s worth it. Phelps’ step motivated many to take a stand for themselves and their mental health.