Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, has long been an advocate for mental health awareness in sports. His words gained even more weight following Simone Biles‘ shocking withdrawal from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, a moment that sparked a global conversation about the immense pressure on elite athletes.
Biles, a four-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the greatest gymnasts in history, was forced to step away from competition during the women’s team finals due to a mental block known as “the twisties.”
This condition causes gymnasts to lose their sense of awareness in midair, making even the most routine moves extremely dangerous.
After an uncharacteristically shaky vault routine, Biles chose to withdraw, prioritizing her well-being over competition. While many applauded her bravery, others were quick to label her a quitter-a reaction that ignited passionate debates about the mental health struggles of athletes on the world stage.
Phelps, who has openly discussed his own mental health battles, quickly came to Biles‘ defense, calling for greater understanding and support for athletes facing similar struggles.
Phelps’ advice
Speaking to NBC in July 2021, Phelps emphasized how overwhelming the Olympic experience can be and stressed the importance of allowing athletes to be vulnerable without judgment.
“The Olympics is overwhelming. The easiest way for me to say this is athletes, and Olympic athletes in general-we need someone who we can trust, somebody that can let us be ourselves and listen,” Phelps said.
“Allow us to become vulnerable. Somebody who’s not going to try to fix us. We carry a lot of weight on our shoulders, and it’s challenging.”
The 23-time gold medalist understands the struggle firsthand. Over the years, Phelps has spoken about his own battles with depression and anxiety, revealing how he hit rock bottom multiple times.
His struggles even led to multiple DUI arrests before he finally sought professional help and found a way to turn his life around.