From Pressure to Purpose: The Story of Michael Phelps

By: Jordan Smolsky

At the 2000 United States Olympic Swimming Trials, a 15-year-old burst on the scene to become the youngest male swimmer to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team since 1932. He went on to place 5th in the 200-meter butterfly at the Sydney Olympics, a feat that was unheard of at the time for a 15-year-old. The name of this young phenom? Michael Phelps.

Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympic swimmer of all time. With 28 medals in total, 23 of them gold, he has accomplished feats no other swimmer or athlete has ever achieved. From making his first Olympic team at 15 years old to getting eight gold medals at a single Olympics, Michael Phelps has proved the impossible. What does someone have to do to achieve this level of athletic success? And what can this pressure and attention do to you? Michael Phelps experienced it all.

After the Sydney Olympics, Phelps and his long-time coach, Bob Bowman, set the goal to break the world record in the 200-meter butterfly. He accomplished this feat the next calendar year, at the 2001 World Championships trials, still only 15 years old. The next goal after that was to start winning some Olympic medals. To do this, Phelps had to train like no one else ever has.

Leading up to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, Phelps had one of the strictest and most disciplined training schedules we have ever seen from an athlete. Heavily influenced by his coach, Phelps would train every single day of the year. On birthdays, while being sick, and even on Christmas, Phelps would find time during the day to train towards his goals. He did this every year leading up to the Athens Games; he never missed a single practice.

The hard work paid off as Phelps would go on to win 8 Olympic medals at the 2004 Athens Games, six of them being gold. He set multiple world records and became a household name around the world at just the age of 19 years old. After one of the most successful Olympic performances ever, you would think there would be some time to relax and enjoy this accomplishment. For Phelps and his coach, this was not an option. They went right back to work to start prepping for the 2008 Beijing Games to do something no one has ever done before.

After another four years of rigorous training, Phelps had made it to what would be the greatest athletic performance of all time. At the Beijing Games, Phelps would go on to win eight gold medals and set seven world records. He was on top of the world. Everyone around the world knew who Michael Phelps was. You would think that this would be something that he would cherish and celebrate, as he did something that would be remembered forever. Unfortunately, this moment did the exact opposite for Phelps, as he spiraled into depression and a battle with mental health.

Like most Olympians, after achieving something you have been working towards your entire life, you can fall into something that’s called “post-Olympic depression.” Phelps was heavily affected by this as he spiraled into a state of depression. From being on top of the world to being in the darkest place imaginable, it was quite a fall for the decorated Olympian. This continued through the lead-up to the 2012 Olympic Games. Phelps resented the sport of swimming, which led to him regularly skipping practices. His coach, Bob Bowman, and Phelps would constantly be arguing, which was something that was new for the long-time duo. Despite all of this, Phelps was still able to put up a respectable performance of 4 golds and 2 silvers at the 2012 London Games. Phelps would later admit that this performance was not great, and he would later retire following the Games.

Following the Games and into his retirement, he once again struggled with post-Olympic Depression. This time was ever worse than the Beijing Games. Phelps was arrested for DUI in 2014 and later checked into rehab in hopes of overcoming his struggles with alcohol. This was a harsh reality check and a sign that even the people who “have it all” can deal with significant struggles. With the help of his family, coach, and even Ray Lewis, Phelps was able to complete his rehab and begin to heal.

After rehab, Phelps decided to return to swimming but this time is wasn’t for the medal or the glory, it was for himself and to enjoy swimming again. Phelps would go on to complete one of the greatest comebacks in the history of swimming. He would go on to win five gold medals and one silver at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. But more than just the medals, Phelps would be able to finish his career in the right way, healthy and on top of the world again.

Michael Phelps is a living testament that no matter how successful someone is, they can still have the toughest battles. For athletes around the world, they can look to Phelps for inspiration not only from what he did in the pool but also for how he overcame his struggles and was able to be himself again. Phelps continues to advocate for mental health and regularly speaks about his struggles in the hope of helping others.

Sources:

Olympics.com. Michael Phelps training regimen, diet, gold medals and world records. https://www.olympics.com/en/news/michael-phelps-training-regimen-workut-diet

Moyer, M. W. (2022, May 17). Michael Phelps: ‘My depression and anxiety is never going to just disappear.’ Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/michael-phelps-my-depression-and-anxiety-is-never-going-to-just-disappear

Olympics.com. 23-time gold medallist Michael Phelps opens up on ‘post-Olympic depression.’ https://www.olympics.com/en/news/23-time-gold-medallist-michael-phelps-opens-up-on-post-olympic-depression

ESPN. (2016, June 23). Michael Phelps prepares for life after 2016 Rio Olympics. https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/16425548/michael-phelps-prepares-life-2016-rio-olympics

Olympics.com. Michael Phelps’ Olympic medals: A complete guide to how they were won. https://www.olympics.com/en/news/michael-phelps-olympic-medals-record-how-many-gold-swimmer-world-record