“Would Be Away for a Long Time”- Seven-Year-Old Michael Phelps Struggled to Cope With Father’s Departure

Retired swimmer Michael Phelps has become an important figure in the fight against mental health taboo. Not only has he talked extensively about the issues around mental health, but Phelps has also revealed the issues he faced over the years. He has made significant efforts to normalize prioritizing mental health, including partnering up with Talkspace. The platform allows people to connect with professionals and seek help from the comfort of their homes.

Amongst the various issues Phelps revealed, a prominent one has been the departure of his father. As a child with ADHD, Michael needed something to divert his attention from his father’s exit.

Michael Phelps used swimming as a distraction

The life of Michael Phelps has been one full of records and triumphs. It has equally been a life full of issues and setbacks that took a toll on his mental health. Even his relationship with his wife, Nicole, was a rollercoaster ride, with the couple engaging in an on-again, off-again relationship before settling down. But none, in comparison, come close to the issues Michael developed after his parents divorced and his father had to leave.

As a 7-year-old, Phelps realized his father would not be around for a long time, and he needed to sway his focus away from this fact. In his book, Beneath the Surface, Phelps recalled the feeling. He wrote, “As I began to grasp that my dad would be away for a long time, I needed something that could grab my attention.” And as fate would have it, the swimming gods chose this time to introduce the sport to its greatest champion.

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Michael’s elder sisters (Whitney and Hilary Phelps) used to swim at the local aquatic club. Their mother, Debbie Phelps, decided it might be a good idea to make him give it a go. And what an idea it was! The young kid would become the inspiration for every budding swimmer across the planet.

Phelps was not a fan of swimming

One would imagine that Phelps took kindly to water, and soon as he got into the pool, he swam off like a dolphin. But they’d be wrong. The famous ‘Baltimore Bullet’ had a hard time facing water and hated it in the beginning.

In his book, Phelps wrote, “I hated it. We’re talking screaming, kicking fit-throwing, goggle-tossing hate.” Michael also once admitted that he was afraid to put his face underwater. But, after practicing for a while, there was no stopping Michael. “Once I figured out how to swim, I felt so free.” Being in the pool also helped Michael slow his mind down. It helped him feel like he was in control of his thoughts and actions.

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What began as a kind of therapy for Michael became the means of achieving greatness. Phelps became a worldwide sensation, especially after winning eight gold medals in eight events at the Beijing Olympics.