“Saying Goodbye Is Never Easy”: Michael Phelps’ Wife Mourns Death of Their Furry Baby After Tumor Battle

More often than not, pets become crucial family members who leave a lasting impact on our lives. Their contribution to the mental well-being of their human companions cannot be overstated and that is something every athlete around the world can use to improve their abilities when in action. For swimming legend Michael Phelps and his family, being surrounded by dogs has always been one way of staying in a close-knit household.

However, after a recent blow, the Phelps family is reeling from the incident, and Nichole Johnson had to share the sad news with the world. Phelps & Co.’s love for their four-legged buddies is well-documented and the latest development will leave their fans heartbroken.

Michael Phelps and family left devastated by death of a dear one

In a recent Instagram post, Nichole announced the news of one of their pet’s gut-wrenching demise. The French bulldog Legend has been in battle with a physical ailment for quite some time, and now, finally, the final verdict of the tussle has come to the forefront. Johnson also posted two images of Legend to commemorate the fond moments he gifted the Phelps family. Nichole shared the news of Legend’s passing with a soul-touching message and wrote, “Saying good bye is never easy” with a sad-looking emoji to express her feelings.

Phelps’ other pet Juno (who was also a Frenchie) left them only months ago and Nichole believes an emotional reunion in heaven is in order. “…after months of Legend battling a tumor on his forehead he told us it was time for him to find Juno again“, wrote Nichole in her post. One image from the post shows Nichole and the newborn Nico spending the last few moments with Legend before he went to his forever resting place.

Along with the revelation of Legend’s passing, Nichole also urged her fans to make every opportunity count to create new memories with their own pets. “Hug your fur babies tight for me tonight,” requested an evidently distraught Johnson. With Phelps being a staunch mental health advocate, the recent experience will probably only boost his determination to help others fight their own demons.

Olympic legend’s fixation on helping others

On several occasions previously, Phelps talked about how his own mental health issues got the best of him throughout his life and career. However, he also shared how he managed to come out of the troubles and find his way back to the light. With that, Phelps also vowed to help his fans find the way and sought to lower the stigma surrounding mental health. For the Baltimore Bullet, being mentally happy can even rival the feeling of winning an Olympic medal.

Read more: Long-Standing ‘Mental Health’ Advocate Michael Phelps Applauds DeMar DeRozan’s Journey

Phelps also commended former NBA star DeMar DeRozan’s battle against mental health issues and said that focusing on mental well-being can “save lives“. With the family mourning Legend’s death, it remains to be seen how the experience helps the Phelps family to grow and cope together as a single unit.