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michael phelps
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Stream It Or Skip It: 'The Weight of Gold' on HBO, a Documentary About Olympic Athletes and the Stigma of Mental Illness
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Michael Phelps' 'The Weight of Gold' Mental Health Doc Heads to HBO
Michael Phelps is taking us behind the shiny gold medals and bright lights of the Olympic Games with his new HBO documentary, The Weight of Gold. The decorated athlete’s film explores how the rewards that come with competitive sports can also have devastating effects on mental health.
Phelps interviews famous athletes and also shares his own experience competing in the Olympics, which resulted in a deep depression after the Games came to an end. He’s since worked on his mental health and is dedicating his life to helping others overcome similar struggles. Fans haven’t seen him in the pool for a while since his last Olympic Games in 2016, so what’s Phelps up to now? Here’s everything we know about America’s most celebrated swimmer.
Did Michael Phelps Retire?
Phelps came out of retirement to compete in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, marking his fifth Olympics. Since 2016, Phelps has firmly settled back into retirement, denying that he would even consider entering another Olympic Games.
His post-Olympics career has been focused largely on efforts to improve mental health, but he’s also partnered with Colgate to advocate for water conservation, according to Time Magazine. Phelps has also paired up with Talkspace, an app that helps connect users to licensed therapists.
How Many Gold Medals Does Michael Phelps Have?
In total, Phelps has 23 gold medals. He also has three silver and two bronze medals, making him the most decorated Olympian of all time. According to the Olympics website, all of Phelps’ medals weigh eight kilograms in total — but he somehow managed to pose with every single one of them on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Is Michael Phelps Married?
Yes, Phelps is a married man. The athlete tied the knot with former Ms. California USA Nicole Johnson in 2016. They met at the 2007 ESPY Awards and later became engaged in 2015.
Does Michael Phelps Have Children?
Phelps and his wife have three sons together: Boomer Robert Phelps, Beckett Richard Phelps and Maverick Phelps. The swimmer told the Huffington Post last year that he’s not so sure if he wants his sons to enter the same competitive swimming world he was involved in for decades, but that he’ll leave the choice up to them.
“It’s a touchy subject because I want the boys to be able to figure out who they are and find out what they love themselves,” he said. “Maybe they’ll happen to go into swimming. I just don’t think it’s fair to them to have to live in my footsteps or what I’ve done. I just don’t think it’s right.”
How to Watch The Weight of Gold:
Phelps’ athlete mental health documentary premieres tonight. To watch it live on TV, tune in to HBO at 9/8c. If you’d prefer to stream The Weight of Gold, you’re in luck — the documentary will also be available to watch on HBO Max.
