Michael Phelps Is Mourning A Tragic Loss

Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympian athlete of all time. Although there's no doubt Michael put in countless hours in the pool to become one of the fastest professional swimmers, a timeline of all the highs and lows in his life shows he's had his fair share of struggles, too. The untold truth of Michael Phelps might also be why so many people are so interested and invested in his story. That's because Michael has made it no secret that he's had a hard time with his mental health and battle with depression.

With that said, the 28-time Olympic medalist is lucky to have such a solid support system in his wife, Nicole Johnson, and his mother, Debbie Phelps, according to E! Online. Few could forget how supportive and excited his mom was each time Michael swam his races during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Debbie even became a fashion icon back then thanks to her Chico's ensembles at the pool, ABC News reported.

Although Michael has his wife and mother by his side, the relationship with his father, Fred Phelps, was always complicated. Unfortunately, Michael has shared some sad news about his dad that will make things even tougher on him. 

Michael Phelps has announced that his father, Fred Phelps, has died. Sharing throwback photos of his dad along with himself, Michael captioned an Instagram post with, "You'll always be my dad. And I'll always be your son. Love you, dad, and I will miss you. RIP, dad." TalkSpace, which Michael first teamed up with in 2018 for a national campaign, commented on his Instagram post, "Thinking of you and your family, Michael. Nothing can prepare us for the loss of a parent. We send you our deepest condolences during this time." Some of Phelps' celebrity friends and fellow professional athletes like Lindsey Vonn commented, "I'm so sorry for your loss. He will always be there."

In an interview with Sports Illustrated back in 2015, Michael said that growing up without his father around was one of the most challenging aspects of his childhood. He said, "For me, not having a father always there was hard. I had Bob [Bowman], and I had Peter [Carlisle], these guys who acted as father figures. But deep down, inside, it was hard." However, Michael did tell Sports Illustrated in 2016 that he and his father, Fred, were rebuilding their bond. After the Olympian was arrested for a drunk driving incident, he had invited Fred to spend time with him at his rehab facility in Arizona, where they made up for lost time.

Our condolences go out to Michael and the entire Phelps family during this difficult time.

If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).