Michael Phelps might be the king of the pool, but his story is way more than gold medals and world records. The Baltimore Bullet has faced his fair share of storms, turning waves of struggle into a mission to raise awareness about mental health. From battling personal demons before the 2004 Olympics to grappling with post-Olympic depression after Beijing 2008, this GOAT’s journey has been anything but smooth sailing. And then there was 2014—a year that hit him harder than a rogue tidal wave. Back in 2014, Phelps hit a life-altering crossroads when he found himself making headlines not for his record-breaking feats in the pool but for a DUI arrest in Maryland.

According to the Maryland Transportation Authority, he was charged with driving under the influence, speeding, and swerving across double lane lines in the Fort McHenry Tunnel on I-95. He was later released, but that arrest proved to be a wake-up call. After the arrest, Phelps committed to a 45-day treatment program that didn’t just help him get back in the pool—it transformed his life. Now, nearly a decade later, he’s reflecting on those dark days with the wisdom of someone who’s been through the ringer and come out stronger.

In a heartfelt chat with NBC on December 29, 2024, Michael Phelps opened up about one of the darkest moments of his life—the 2014 DUI that left him feeling trapped and overwhelmed by shame. Phelps didn’t hold back, sharing, “I mean, in that moment, for me, there’s a lot of shame. I had the thought of like, it was me that was putting my family through all this stress, all of this, and I was just like, okay, maybe it’s better if I just leave.”

Michael Phelps went on to share more about that harrowing time and revealed, “I was prescribed Ambien from our doctors on our team trips. I was happy I only had three pills left; I took the all that night.” The morning after felt like rock bottom—he hadn’t eaten or drunk anything for two or three days, isolating himself completely. “I didn’t really wanna talk to anybody, I didn’t wanna see anybody.” Phelps knew he couldn’t keep running from it, so he took a leap of faith for his own survival. “The thoughts that I was having were too much, they were overwhelming and scary. So, for me at that point, I just checked myself into a treatment center for 45 days.”

When the host asked, “What happened in those 45 days that made you stronger?” Michael Phelps didn’t hold back, painting a vivid picture of his transformative journey. “I basically got ripped apart,” he said, describing the process as if he were a computer’s motherboard taken apart piece by piece. “And you just kinda rebuild,” he explained, sharing how he worked through the good, the bad, and everything in between, carefully piecing himself back together.

In 2016, Phelps reflected on his time in rehab, admitting that he learned many things about himself that he always knew but never wanted to accept. Perhaps the most shocking were the ideas he used to have about himself, such as organizing his whole personality around being an athlete and failing to recognize his emotional and psychological side. He soon changed his mind and started to accept the process, thinking of rehab as a kind of competition. He said to himself, “I’m here for 45 days, so let’s see what I can make of it.”

As the days went on, he began pushing himself harder, waking up early each morning to lift weights, do push-ups, and swim in a small pool where one length of the pool was a full stroke. Each night he would call his family and they could hear him gradually stripping himself of the outer defenses that he had built for himself over the years.

After his 45-day stay at The Meadows, he dove right back into training in the fall of 2014, and the swimming world could hardly keep quiet. He hit the pool hard, though his performances were a bit up and down, and he battled through some struggles. But in August that year, while most of the top U.S. swimmers raced at the world championships in Kazan, Russia (where Phelps was still serving his suspension), he made waves at the national championships in San Antonio when he grabbed the gold in the 200-meter butterfly, finishing with a time of 1:52.94. And guess what? After hitting rock bottom, he’s actually grateful he chose to keep going—and came back even stronger!

Michael Phelps makes a comeback in the game and in life!

After the whirlwind of 2014, Michael Phelps didn’t just make a comeback—he wrote a legend. With five golds and a silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics, he took his place as the most decorated swimmer of all time. If that wasn’t impressive enough, that was his final bow, and he went out on his own terms. In an interview with NBC’s Today in 2016, he reflected on the journey, saying, “Everything happened for a reason.” And let’s be real—what could be more fitting than his farewell with his fiancé and their adorable baby boy clapping in the stands?

Fast forward to now, and Phelps is living life post-swim with the support of his loving wife and four sons. But he’s not just kicking back—having struggled with depression and anxiety himself, Phelps is on a mission to let others know that even after all the Olympic glory, those struggles don’t magically vanish. He’s been vocal about the importance of seeking help, encouraging others to understand that mental health issues are not isolated—and it’s okay to not be okay. A huge part of his journey has been the people he’s surrounded himself with.

Enter Jay Glazer, a well-known sports analyst, and Phelps’

“mental health buddy.” The two share a bond, supporting each other through the highs and lows. But Phelps isn’t just talking to his friends—he’s pushing for change within organizations like the US Olympic Committee. While progress has been made, he’s vocal about how much more needs to be done for athletes’ mental well-being, especially when it comes to mental health care.

In 2019, Phelps was awarded the Morton E. Ruderman Award in Inclusion by the Ruderman Family Foundation, which advocates for better representation of people with disabilities. They applauded him not only for being an amazing advocate for those with disabilities but also for his openness about his mental health struggles.

Looking back, Phelps wants to change how the world views mental health. As he puts it, “Going through my all-time low, you know, kind of seeing where I was and then seeing what I have now, I’m so thankful for my family and friends around me who were able to help me and were able to communicate with me.” It’s a reminder that even the greatest need support, and that, together, we can keep pushing forward.