"That was the first time I came across depression" - When Michael Phelps opened up on suffering from post-Olympic fatigue after second appearance

Michael Phelps once opened up about the first time he experienced depression. The legendary swimmer competed at the Olympics five times, collecting 28 Olympic medals.

Phelps made his debut at the Games during the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, where he settled in fifth place in the 200m butterfly event. Four Summers later at the 2004 Games in Athens, he stunned the world by securing six gold and two bronze medals.

Although Phelps' career has been marked by several iconic moments, it was marked by numerous setbacks and personal struggles, including the post-Olympics depression that he suffered after the 2004 Games.

Michael Phelps reflected on his intense commitment and discipline during his training leading up to the 2004 Olympics, following a strict regime for about five or six years with days off—no holidays, no birthdays, and no breaks of any kind. However, the transition between an intense training schedule to a sudden drop in activity led to depression.

Speaking to Olympics.com in 2021, he reflected on the challenging period, saying it was the first time he encountered the emotional struggle.

"I can go back to 2004 and say that was when I first experienced it," Phelps said. "That was the first time I came across depression coming back from the 2004 Olympic Games. I suffered from post-Olympic depression pretty bad.”

At the 2004 Games, Phelps registered a world record in the 400m medley after clocking a stunning time of 4:08.26.

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"Second taste of post-Olympic depression" - When Michael Phelps opened up on suffering from Post-Olympic blues after every edition

Michael Phelps of the United States at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Credits: Getty)

Michael Phelps once opened up about suffering from post-Olympic depression after every edition of the Games. He competed in 2000 Sydney, 2004 Athens, 2008 Beijing, 2012 London, and 2016 Rio Games.

In an interview with Olympics.com in May 2024, he described how, after achieving a high level of success, he felt a sense of emptiness and uncertainty. After every Olympics, his highs of winning were followed by the lows of difficult emotional periods.

"2004 was my first taste of post-Olympic depression, you know, coming off such a high," Phelps said.

"It’s basically … you get to like the edge of a cliff, like ‘Cool now what? Oh, I guess I've got to wait four more years to have the chance to do it again. 2008 was my second taste of post-Olympic depression because coming off that high after doing something you set out to do your whole entire life.”

Michael Phelps has been a staunch advocate for mental health. He founded the Michael Phelps Foundation and established the Mental Health Fund in 2020, which provides counseling options for Team USA athletes.