Michael Phelps: I thought about committing suicide, so now I want to save lives

Michael Phelps, winner of 28 medals at the Olympic Games (23 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze) was one of the great attractions of the World Business Forum #WOBI.

After the event held on Wednesday at the IFEMA exhibition center in Madrid, the American had an emotional meeting with Teresa Perales with MARCA as a witness.

At IFEMA, the Olympic legend offered the audience reflections on the importance of mental health in addition to reviewing a career full of ups and downs.

"When I was a kid I trained with others eight years older than me," he said as he reflected on some of his struggles.

"It was weird, but I enjoyed doing it. I've always enjoyed swimming, even though it's a pretty lonely sport.

"You can't talk to anyone, you can't listen to music.... It's just you with yourself.

"We can't talk to each other, although I don't like to use the word 'can't', it should be taken out of the dictionary."

Phelps and his mental health

Phelps pointed to 2004 as the first time that he struggled with his mental health.

"That year I already had a seasonal depression. Then, in 2014, I had the second depression," he confessed.

"I didn't want to be alive. I didn't eat, I didn't drink, I went to a recovery center.

"I was fighting for my life more than people could imagine. In those moments, when I was bad, I would beat myself up because I thought, 'I'm not doing my job,'.

The complicated situation he experienced caused him to end up entering a center for rehabilitation.

"I sent a message to my mother before entering, I told her that I was scared and that I didn't know what to do," he remembered.

"I didn't get a response. I went into the center and hardly spoke to anyone.

"It took me several days. By the third day, I started to relate more."

Fortunately, he can now remember it all in detail.

"I'm comfortable, but I know there are a lot of people who have mental health problems," he reflected.

"One in four people have a mental health problem and they don't talk about it.

"If we all talked about it, it would be normalized. Mind you, with the pandemic this whole thing has evolved.

"If someone feels alone, as happened in the pandemic, it's good for them to share their emotions.

"By sharing what happens to us and our feelings we can help each other a lot. Nothing is perfect in life, but it helps if we open up."

The pressure of always being on the ball

Part of the key to having achieved such a great record was to have lost in London.

"When I missed the target in 2012, I had the worst possible feeling," Phelps said.

"I missed my chance. But maybe if I had won in London I wouldn't have swum in Rio, I used that result as a motivation to win more medals.

"After my first retirement I went a year and a half without competing, but then when I came back, at 31, I was hungrier than ever.

"In 2016 I felt like a 15-year-old kid. I was able to prepare great for the end of my career.

"After my first retirement I hated the sport and after my second I did what I wanted to do, which is to retire the way you want to retire."

Each person needs his or her own time

As advice for taking care of mental health, Phelps threw out an idea.

"We have to take care of ourselves," he advised.

"Maybe go for a walk for a while, take a little 10-minute donkey nap?

"Some people are out of control and self-care is something that sometimes gets overlooked.

"Take 10 or 30 minutes a day for yourself, go to the gym.... Give yourself some time to be your best self."

And he offers another message for retirees or those who are close to retirement.

"You should look for something you are passionate about," he added.

"For me it was complicated to find it. I was biting my nails, I didn't know what to do.

"Sometimes mental health plays tricks on you. You have to talk to other people and strategize.

"It's important to find something that excites you."

The Baltimore native spoke of the legacy he wants to leave.

"In the sports world there are a lot of people who doubted everything, my goals," he admitted.

"But it was actually something that was feasible. People thought that winning a gold medal was impossible and I won eight.

"I want to teach kids that no matter what you pursue, it's always achievable.

"We can't fly, but we can do anything else. Let's not be afraid to pursue our objectives or goals."

That's why the legend believes he will be remembered more for his messages now than for what he achieved in the water.

"I think I'm going to be remembered for my post-race than for the medals, which are amazing but they are not who I am," he evaluated.

"I want to help people who are having a hard time. I want to save lives. I thought about committing suicide too and I want to help these people.

"There is light at the end of the tunnel. Talking about these issues has saved my life. I love these issues.

"I want to do everything I can to help people who are having a hard time. I want to remind people that they are not alone."

His motivation out of competition is even stronger than when he was swimming.