Page 19 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Thursday 23 May 2019

Phelps honored for honesty on mental health, helping others

By DAVID GINSBURG I am today, enjoying the ney and have other peo-
AP Sports Writer platform of talking about ple share their journeys with
BALTIMORE (AP) — While something that's so impor- me as well," Phelps said.
swimming to Olympic glory, tant," Phelps told The Asso- "Honestly, I never thought
Michael Phelps found com- ciated Press in an interview it would be as big as this,
fort in the pool and quite a Tuesday. but it's been a true dream
bit of angst out of it. Because he is willing to to be able to watch the
His bout with depression share his story of depres- growth that mental health
reached its nadir in 2014 sion and raise awareness has taken, almost being at
after a second DUI ar- of mental health issues, center stage."
rest. That's when the most Phelps was given the fifth To say this endeavor has
decorated Olympian of all annual Morton E. Ruder- been fulfilling is an under-
time checked himself into man Award in Inclusion on statement.
a rehabilitative center in a Tuesday night in Boston. "Through this, if I can save
desperate effort to make After participating in four one life, two lives, five lives,
sense of it all. Olympic Games and col- a thousand, a million, to me
"When I was in my room lecting 28 medals, includ- that's so much more impor-
and not wanting to talk to ing 23 gold, Phelps has tant than winning a gold
anybody for a number of dedicated his time and medal," he said. In this July 12, 2017, file photo, Michael Phelps arrives at the
days and not wanting to energy to promoting the The 33-year-old Phelps be- ESPYS in Los Angeles.
be alive, I wanted to see importance of water safe- lieves his bout with depres- Associated Press
what other roads I could ty and advocating for the sion is a story that many
take to see if there was de-stigmatization of mental can share, including CEOs Olympian, your whole life now.
help," Phelps recalled. health problems through and other retired athletes. is put on hold. All the eggs "To have my wife (Nicole
The treatment he received the Michael Phelps Foun- After accomplishing ev- are in one basket. I would Johnson), who's always
— and continues to re- dation. ery goal he set for himself, say 2004, 2008, 2012, partly by my side, two amazing
ceive — charted his post- "When I first really opened what was left to do? after '16 (all Olympic years) little boys at home and a
Olympic course. up about the struggles "Probably my first real de- I've dealt with pretty severe third one on the way, I'm
"I know it's something that that I had in '15, obviously pression spell was after depression spells. I was kind extremely thankful of the
changed my life and I dreamed of being able to 2004, then the next big one of lost at that point." support I've had to get
saved my life and allowed get more publicity to this was after 2008," he said. The Baltimore native is in me through these times,"
me to be able to be where and to really share my jour- "When you set out to be an a far better frame of mind Phelps said.q