“Had Mental Issues and Considered Suicide”: Citing Michael Phelps’ Courage, Swimming Icon’s Sister Calmed His Emotional Outburst During 2016 Olympics

The importance of mental health has gradually come into focus in the world of sports. With this, the flawed practice of hiding mental health issues has been slowly going down.  However, as legendary sports personalities like Michael Phelps and Simone Biles are talking openly about mental health, people are slowly understanding, it’s normal to talk about it.

Chad le Clos, another famous athlete, defeated Michael Phelps in the 2012 Olympics in the 200m Butterfly. After winning against the best, moving forward in his life, he wasn’t able to accept defeat. That led him to a dark space in his life where, going further, he even had suicidal thoughts in 2021.

Michael Phelps’ extraordinary battle with his mental health issues has become an example for all

With the level of courage and insistence he put into his career without quitting, Michael Phelps has gone through a lot. Even other athletes had been given an example of Phelps regarding facing mental health issues. African swimmer Chad le Clos once got to a line where he started having suicidal thoughts back in 2021. At that delicate time, he eventually took the help of therapy that helped him out.

In therapy, he came to know that his mental health is directly proportional to his pool success. He recalled, “I went to the village [after my 200 fly race] and my whole family were there. I just burst into tears and I was so empty. My sister grabbed me and said, ‘you don’t know what Phelps has gone through. He’s had mental issues and considered suicide. He needed that win and we’re happy for him. You have a family and you’re our hero forever’.” 

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Clos added, “She was saying something I couldn’t comprehend at the time and I just thought she didn’t get it. After the highs of beating Phelps at London 2012, I felt like an absolute failure.” However, he didn’t understand those phrases back then but realized how true they were after the therapy sessions.

A mental health advocate after retirement

Michael Phelps has won an immense sum of 28 Olympics medals in his career. However, he has emphasized many times how after seeing everything in his life, mental health matters to him the most. Henceforth, he became a mental health advocate post-retirement and loves to spread mental health awareness. He would rather save a life than win another Olympic medal.

Phelps said, “We have lost way too many Olympic athletes to suicide. I don’t want to lose any more of my Olympic family members.” Even though Phelps loved competing, he feels to protect mental health is also very important. He supports and applauds the people who come out and open up about their issues rather than holding them back.

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Michael Phelps is an inspiration to millions of people for his swimming capabilities. Moreover, he is an inspiration to millions battling mental health issues. Chad le Clos, who suffered major mental health issues, eventually took help with therapy and felt exceptionally well post that. The therapy ultimately led him to think clearer and make better decisions in life.