Various athletes have opened up about their experiences with mental health in recent times. And many have competed in some of the most significant meets, including the Olympics. Missy Franklin is among those athletes who have emerged as a vocal advocate of mental health, alongside Michael Phelps, Caeleb Dressel, and Allison Schmitt.

The swimmer had quite an illustrious career with six Olympic medals, including five golds. Despite her achievements, she struggled with the pressure of competing in two Olympic meets. And she states that most athletes go through some form of mental health issues following the meet.

Michael Phelps and Missy Franklin faced mental health issues after the Olympics

Franklin is quite the celebrity in the US. And she has a rich fanbase even after retiring from the sport in 2018. However, the world saw her becoming an ardent advocate of mental health issues in the months before her retirement. The same year, Phelps, too, started speaking up about his experience with depression.

She had always expressed the pressure that meets such as the Olympics put on athletes. However, this time, she had more clarity regarding the issue. Speaking with journalists at the venue of the 2018 Laureus awards, the swimmer said, “I think as role models in sport we often feel this pressure to be strong and tough all the time.”

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During the event, she also indicated that fans put athletes on a high pedestal. She added, “I think people sometimes forget that we’re human too, and we have days when we’re exhausted and not motivated and don’t want to go to practice and I think it’s so important for young athletes to see that.”

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Drawing inspiration from her fellow swimmers, Franklin continued, “I feel so fortunate because I had so many incredible athletes pave the way for me. I had Michael Phelps and Allison Schmitt, who were two of my really good friends and teammates for so long; both really openly talk of their depression and what they went through. I just think we need so much more of that.”

Other swimmers who have faced similar challenges

The issue of post-Olympic depression is real. And numerous Olympians have opened up about their ordeals with mental health following the Olympic Games. The most prominent athlete on the ever-increasing list is the most decorated Olympian, Michael Phelps.

A couple of months before Franklin’s statements, the 28-time Olympic medalist revealed that he found it hard to cope with his daily life after returning home from the meet. He even stated the feeling was so taxing that he “didn’t want to be alive anymore.”

Similarly, Allison Schmitt and Caeleb Dressel have publicly acknowledged their struggles with mental health in the past, and they continue to do so. The athletes have addressed their fears and their vulnerability numerous times.

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However, Franklin feels that there is a need for even more athletes to come out to share their experiences of mental health issues with the world. And she is not alone in this. Phelps, too, feels that more athletes should open up to address this issue.