“This Bubbling Anger”: Despite Winning 23 Olympic Golds, Michael Phelps ‘Felt Absolutely Worthless’ in 2020

“I am still breathing,” Michael Phelps answered with these deep words back in 2020, when enquired about his condition. Why did Phelps answer with such sorrow and a disappointing reply? Well, the effect of those hard times. The world was facing the biggest pandemic of the century. Everything was falling apart. So was Michael Phelps’ world inside his head.

People had a terrible time during those one-one and a half years when they were trapped inside their homes. Similarly, Michael Phelps had an awful time staying trapped in his house. The empty mind sitting at home gave him an incredibly stressful time. During an online interview in 2020, he revealed his state of mind and how is he coping with the situation.

Michael Phelps admitted it was the toughest challenge

Certainly, COVID-19 was the toughest challenge the world has faced together recently. Similarly, for Michael Phelps too, this was the most unexpected challenge he faced in his life that left him clueless. He didn’t know what to do. Yes, he had several facilities that many people didn’t have during the pandemic. But the fear for the family made him think all day if he has done enough for his family to be okay.

The unexpected challenge made him think all day. Moreover, the amount of free time he had made it worse. Phelps said, “There are times where I feel absolutely worthless, where I completely shut down but have this bubbling anger that is through the roof. If I’m being honest, more than once I’ve just screamed out loud, “I wish I wasn’t me!”

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Indeed, he had a terrible time during the pandemic. He opened up to the reporter as he generally does and that makes him feel better. 

The family was the only good thing Phelps had

Amongst all the negative energy that he surrounded himself with inside his mind, Michael Phelps’ family made him feel better. He mentioned an incident that is not ethically correct, but it was good for him as he let the steam go out of his head. Phelps said, “I had a blowup with Nicole, my wife. It wasn’t good. But at the same time, I was able to let out all those pent-up emotions”.

The gym, his kids, and his wife were the only things that kept him well during that devastating phase of life. The early gym gave him the fuel to have a good day ahead and missing that led him to have a terrible day. 

Watch this story: Paige Spiranac Hailed Olympic Legend Michael Phelps for His Courageous Act in 2018

Living inside the head is really a hard thing to do. Especially when you were spending your days trapped inside a place for a long time in an uncertain and unexpected situation. Phelps went through a hard time during the pandemic and credited his family for making him feel better under those circumstances.