Michael Phelps Credited Naomi Osaka for Saving a Human Life; With a Much Needed Validation for Her Daring Step in 2021

During earlier sporting eras, talking about mental health was tough. Not many people were aware or accepting of it. But that has changed for good now. Talking about mental health is not a taboo anymore. And some sports stars like Michael Phelps, Naomi Osaka, and Simone Biles display the flip side of the coin.

After Osaka withdrew from the French Open and Wimbledon competitions, she created a new wave of confidence for athletes to come out and speak for themselves. Biles followed the same route at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Therefore, Michael Phelps, a prominent mental health advocate, offered his support to Osaka. He explained how it was a brave decision and that she probably had “saved a life.”

Having Michael Phelps’ shoulder to lean on

After suffering from depression, Phelps moved ahead in his life and spoke at conferences about mental health struggles. He points out his life experiences to create change in society and helps bring out a difference in people’s lives. Thus, knowing the crux of the problem, he mentioned how Osaka made a crucial decision that would help her save a life. 

“Michael Phelps told me that by speaking up I may have saved a life. If that’s true, then it was all worth it,” said Osaka, who was grateful for Phelps. Even a world-class athlete like Phelps is human and has emotions and feelings like ordinary people. He used to train 365 days a year to achieve his goal of becoming a true champion. Suffering from depression after every Olympic Games, he had a series of untoward incidents which left him confused. 

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But overcoming those struggles made him a better person, as he now influences people to open up about their feelings. It is just a beautiful way to accept life as it is, and hopefully, these sports personalities create a prosperous change in the lives of many others. Just like Phelps and Osaka, Simone Biles is a prominent influencer. 

More than a gymnast

Heading to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Simone Biles had the world at her feet. Winning medals became customary, and fans knew she would win more in Tokyo. However, Biles suffered from a phenomenon called ‘twisties’, an episode where one loses space and dimension awareness while twisting in the air. She shocked the entire world with this decision, and fans lauded her for taking a firm approach to mental health struggles. 

Taking a break from gymnastics, Biles focuses on things that make her happy and looks forward to her wedding with boyfriend and NFL star Jonathan Owens.

As a normal person in a society, it is hard to create a change in how people perceive mental health. But athletes are role models. If they step up to instigate a shift in mentalities, people take notice of it. Phelps, Osaka, and Biles are champions of their sport but offer much more to society with their stance on mental health. 

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