Michael and Nicole Phelps are experienced competitors – and winners. In 2010, Nicole won Miss California USA, and Michael is the most decorated Olympian of all time, with 28 Olympic Medals (23 of those gold). But the Phelps also know that winning sometimes comes at a cost. 

After a record-breaking performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympic games, Michael hit an all-time low. He and Nicole had broken up for the third time, he was arrested for driving under the influence, and he was struggling with suicidal thoughts. In late 2014, he found the courage to seek help. Michael checked himself into The Meadows, a residential treatment facility in the desert of Arizona, where he spent 45 days, also addressing his depression and anxiety. Michael often felt like he couldn’t talk about his struggles while competing as a swimmer, but the tools he learned in treatment helped him bounce back even stronger than before. “My last go at the Olympics, it was completely different…I was basically just like, I don't care. I'm going to share and I'm going to be vulnerable. And to me it almost felt like a superpower.” 

Michael’s focus on vulnerability was not only the catalyst to his healing but it also helped restore his relationship with his then girlfriend, now wife, Nicole. Today, as strong advocates for mental health, together they’ve learned to balance high achievement with emotional well-being and embrace both wins and losses. Nicole says they use these skills to instill a sense of resilience in their four young boys. “Please don't ever hand our children a participation trophy, because that's not how we function in this house. There is winning and there is losing. And we have to be able to understand both because you're gonna come out from both still alive, still safe, still breathing.” 

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Michael and Nicole Phelps are experienced competitors and advocates for mental health. Find out more about the wonderful work they’re doing in the world of sports and mental health by visiting their website: michaelphelpsfoundation.org. 

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Our theme music was written by Andy Ogden and produced by Tim Lauer, Andy Ogden and Julian Raymond. All other music that you hear in this episode is courtesy of Epidemic Sound. 

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