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SHANGHAI, CHINA – JULY 24: Michael Phelps of the United States looks dejected after the the Men’s 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay final during Day Nine of the 14th FINA World Championships at the Oriental Sports Center on July 24, 2011 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
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SHANGHAI, CHINA – JULY 24: Michael Phelps of the United States looks dejected after the the Men’s 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay final during Day Nine of the 14th FINA World Championships at the Oriental Sports Center on July 24, 2011 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
On Thursday, Simone Biles, along with USWNT star Megan Rapinoe and 15 others, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House. Although her achievements in gymnastics made her a prime candidate, many think perhaps Michael Phelps was more deserving of the honor.
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According to the White House, there are reasons beyond sporting achievements for Biles’s selection. She furthered the conversation around mental health in sports and advocated for children in foster care and victims of sexual assault. Some Michael Phelps fans, however, are not pleased with that explanation.
Michael Phelps’ achievements and a long career
No one in the world can beat Michael Phelps’ record in medal tallies. The swimmer has 28 Olympic medals, 23 of them gold, won across 4 Olympic Games. Phelps gave a masterclass in what it means to dominate a sport.
In all, Phelps has 94 medals in major international swimming competitions, an astonishing tally of 69 gold, 16 silver, and 9 bronze medals. The swimming GOAT has held the 400m individual medley record since the 2008 Beijing Olympics and has broken multiple records throughout his career. He is one of the greatest athletes ever.
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18 Sep 2000: Michael Phelps of the USA in action during the Mens 200m Butterfly Heats at the Sydney International Aquatic Centre on Day Three of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Mandatory Credit: Ross Kinnaird /Allsport (Getty)
But he is not all about the pool. After the 2008 Olympics, he started the Michael Phelps Foundation. According to the website, it promotes “healthy, active lives, especially for children, primarily by expanding the opportunities for participation in the sport of swimming.” Phelps battled with depression and has opened up about struggling with suicidal thoughts.
READ MORE: “How Terrible Is the World”-Michael Phelps’ Mother Was Once Deeply Hurt to See Her Son in Crisis
He does not shy away from sharing his story so that others can learn from his struggles. “Hopefully, I can save a life. I can help somebody else because I know that the feelings that I have, I had, what I go through every single day, every single week, every single month. I know I’m not alone and I understand that for me it’s OK to not be OK,” he explained.
Fans enraged that Phelps didn’t win the award
Seeing all that Michael Phelps has accomplished, fans believe he should have been a shoo-in for the Presidential Medal of Freedom candidate list.
Michael Phelps greatest swimmer of all time, but he didn’t get one. Why?
— Kris (@KrisBellevue33) July 8, 2022
Yet Michael Phelps still haven't been recognized I'm concerned
— TheGriff (@griffm601) July 8, 2022
Their discontent came through on Twitter, where they compared him to Simone Biles.
Michael Phelps is more deserving.
— James Carter (@pimanjc) July 9, 2022
To specify:
Simone Biles medals: 7
Michael Phelps medals: 28Simone Biles Golds: 4
Larissa Latynina Golds: 922 other gymnasts have more medals than Simone Biles.
Once again, must be fun to run your mouth with made up facts. What world do you people even live in?
— DSlim (@deckham) July 9, 2022
Simone Biles is a personal friend of Obama‘s. Why can’t olympians like Michael Phelps get one too? Michael Phelps is one of the best swimmers of his generation who has enjoyed many milestones in his career. He won 28 Olympic medals and is the most decorated Olympian of all time.
— Boo (@AnimalMary) July 9, 2022
I do believe Michael Phelps has spoken out about metal health way before Simone and she wasn’t the first girl to speak out against abuse in her sport
That said she is an amazing young lady very accomplished
So both of you are right so let’s agree when we can.— Justsayin (@Justsay27691778) July 8, 2022
The gymnast pulled out of multiple events during the Tokyo Olympics to prioritize her mental health and received severe backlash from the public. The criticisms of that daring move haven’t ceased even after a year.
Maybe you should catch up on the fact that she quit on her team and Michael Phelps has been everything that an American athlete should ever be. We’re awarding a quitter. But that’s part for the course for a generation that gives trophies to kids who come in fifth place
— LordSoth (@LordSothKotL) July 7, 2022
Simone Biles: An Olympic athlete who didn't bother participating in the majority of her events in 2021.
*Gets Medal of Freedom*
Michael Phelps: Gets 28 medals over 4 Olympic games. Didn't withdraw from a single event.
*Gets nothing* https://t.co/yeWSHGOoJz
— Christian™ (@ChrisCrosss98) July 7, 2022
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OK so then where is Michael Phelps CMF Jenny Thompsons, Darragh Torres, Natalie Coughlin, Allyson Felix. Katie Ledecky and others. She is a quitter. She let down the country and her team and did nothing, absolutely nothing to receive such a high honor as a CMF
— jesse o'malley (@dragonram7924) July 8, 2022
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Both Michael Phelps and Simone Biles have pushed their sport further and cemented themselves in its history. They have also been big contributors in advocating for mental health among athletes.
DIVE DEEPER: 28-Time Olympic Medalist, Michael Phelps Was Shockingly Snubbed From Top 20 Dominant Athletes List in 2018
