Michael Phelps

By Tom Kirvan

As an Olympian, he is without equal, striking gold 23 times over a swimming career that spanned five Summer Olympiads beginning in Sydney as a 15-year-old in 2000 and ending in Rio in 2016 at age 31.

Michael Phelps snagged 28 Olympic medals in total, including five golds and one silver in his final Olympiad in Brazil. The Baltimore native did so despite a lifelong battle with ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), a condition that has led him to struggles with depression and anxiety, including suicidal thoughts.

Born on June 30, 1985, Phelps said that swimming provided a crucial outlet for his ADHD, helping him channel his energy and focus through his passion for the sport.

“It’s okay to not be okay,” Phelps said of his mental health challenges. “It’s all about how you adapt from those things and learn from mistakes.”

And learn he did, as he recorded the greatest-ever medal haul at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, capturing eight gold medals, winning every event he entered while establishing world records in seven of them.

Michael Phelps*

“You can’t put a limit on anything,” Phelps declared. “The more you dream, the farther you get. If you want to be the best, you have to do things others are not willing to do.”

His talent for swimming was first recognized by famed swim coach Bob Bowman, who began guiding Phelps at age 11.

“Bob was very frank about my talents, my attitude, my inconsistent focus, and my dueling moments of indifference and determination,” Phelps recalled. “He also said that I had a realistic opportunity that other kids didn’t have.”

Phelps retired in 2016 to focus on his family (his wife, Nicole, and their four sons), devoting his energy to becoming a mental health advocate and philanthropist through his Michael Phelps Foundation. He also remains involved in swimming as a volunteer coach and ambassador for the sport.

*Editorial credit: Focus Pix / Shutterstock.com