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One of the most successful and decorated swimmers of all time, Michael Phelps, is considered a gem of the 2016 Olympics. Moreover, the legendary swimmer declared his retirement after the 2016 Olympics. Phelps was eager to have one last competition before hanging up his gear permanently at the Rio Olympics, his fifth appearance in the competition. However, there was a time when he struggled with injuries and wasn’t fit enough.

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Despite being a world-class athlete, Phelps was never afraid to be himself. Of course, everyone makes errors, but how well they are acknowledged and corrected counts.

Michael Phelps’ bad health

Despite being a top athlete, Michael was never afraid to let others in on who he was. Of course, everyone makes mistakes, but how effectively they are recognized and fixed matters.

In a story from Yahoo’s Pat Forde, he said, “It excited me to see times like that again. At meets, I can still step up and swim some of the best times I’ve ever swam at age 30. I don’t think I’ve had an Olympics at 100 percent.” He further mentioned the Beijing Olympics saying, “I broke my wrist six months before.” He has faced many problems while achieving the status of being the greatest of all time.

READ MORE: “Had the Biggest Wedg*e”: Michael Phelps Opened Up on His Biggest Embarrassing Moment of His Career

Before this, Phelps also struggled with mental issues. Once, Phelps’ wife, Nicole Johnson, stated that she speaks boldly on mental health and lets her children know that Michael needs his privacy. Phelps acknowledged that she offered assistance and cared for him until he healed himself.

His swimming legacy

Everyone was familiar with the legendary victory tales of Phelps, and he trained day and night for perfection. But it’s possible things could have gotten a lot more intense due to his high protein diet, where he used to take 10,000 calories. Thankfully, he regained his focus and performed one of the most magnificent swimming performances ever. He set a remarkable record of winning eight gold medals in the Beijing Olympics.

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However, it probably would have broken your heart to watch the Olympic champion swimmer withdraw from the competition so close to the competition. But the swimming gods presided over his destiny, allowing him to stroke his way to Olympic gold in Beijing in 2008. He is usually seen playing golf or spending time with his family after retirement.

Watch This Story: How legendary Michael Phelps’ biological advantage nearly put his life in danger