While it looks all so glorious on the outside, Michael Phelps, the 28-time Olympic medalist swimmer, made an enormous effort to compete against players across different countries and age groups despite lingering questions and uneasy situations about the clean image of the Olympics. Times may change, and records may break, yet Phelps will hold a legendary position in the sport’s history. Touted as the greatest Olympian ever, the swimming G.O.A.T is undoubtedly a complete champion material.

Phelps? phenomenal record speaks for itself. He proved his excellence across all aspects, from maintaining a competition-worthy physique and intense workout regimes to dealing with critics, doubters, and mental health issues. The swimming legend tapped the power of his mind to stay focused and ultimately become the greatest ever. In a hearing before a House Energy and Commerce panel a year after announcing his retirement, Phelps opened up on his disillusionment about the authenticity of the Olympics.

Michael Phelps and his teammates found it unfair and challenging to compete against players who used drugs

Phelps?is a strong advocate for an anti-doping system that ensures the sport is conducted on the premise of fair play. In the hearing, the swimming champion shared the story of his hard training to make himself undefeatable.

The discussion happened amid the scandal of widespread usage of performance-enhancing drugs by Russian athletes. ?I can?t describe how frustrating it is to see other athletes break through performance barriers in unrealistic time frames knowing what I had to do to go through that,??Phelps?stated.

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Moreover, he expressed his disappointment at the authenticity of the system. Also, he shared how unassured he was about the clean image of the athletes in all the international competitions he participated in, including the Olympics. Phelps, who devoted all his life to the sport, likely felt,??To believe in yourself through sport, you need to be able to believe in a system that safeguards clean sport and fair play.?

Phelps?s doping controversy

In 2009, in an expected turn of events, Phelps got into a controversy after a leaked picture of him with a bong at a party went viral. It was revealed that Phelps used it for a recreational purpose rather than to enhance his performance. It got him under flak and made a huge impact on his clean image. Phelps regretted it for several years until it took a serious toll on his mental health.

In 2014, he finally sought intervention at a rehab facility. He dealt with all the piled-up issues, including his estranged relationship with his father. Today, as much as Phelps speaks about swimming, he also emphasizes the importance of mental health. Interestingly, he is also making great strides as a parent by inculcating the right habits to maintain his sons’ mental health in the right spirit.

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