It has been nearly a decade since Michael Phelps last put on a pair of goggles and suited up for Team USA in the pool–that was the side of the most decorated Olympian of all-time that we grew accustomed to seeing.
But in a November 2015 edition of Sports Illustrated, the world got a glimpse of the GOAT in a different light, one that highlighted his mental health. From there, Phelps has become a relentless advocate for mental health, and his efforts in and around the mental health space have helped earn him Sports Illustrated’s Muhammad Ali Legacy Award for 2025.
The award is given each year to an athlete, current or retired, who best embodies the ideals of sportsmanship, leadership, and philanthropy as vehicles for changing the world.
Full List of Past Recipients:
The award was first given out in 2008, then not again until 2014
- 2024: Dikembe Mutombo
- 2022: Allyson Felix
- 2021: Billie Jean King
- 2020: LeBron James
- 2019: Warrick Dunn
- 2018: John Cena
- 2017: Colin Kaepernick
- 2016: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell
- 2015: Jack Nicklaus
- 2014: Magic Johnson
- 2008: Eunice Shriver
That 2015 SI article came a year after Phelps made headlines after being pulled over after driving recklessly and wound up being impaired and charged with a DUI, speeding, and crossing double lane lines. He later entered a treatment facility and returned to the water in the spring of 2015.
According to a Sports Illustrated feature on the award by Tim Layden, the same man who wrote the 2015 piece on the now 28-time Olympic medalist, following the release of that story, there was a sense of relief. “I felt, I don’t know, lighter,” Phelps had said.
Phelps went on to be the flag bearer in 2016 for Team USA at the Olympic Games in Rio. He then added to his legendary total with five more Olympic gold medals and one silver.
Phelps’ longtime coach, Bob Bowman, even commented on his pupil’s journey, saying how he “can see how gratifying it is to him.”
“Especially since swimming is over. He gets going on this, and he seems to really care,” Bowman said. “I think it’s so important to him because he realizes how it relates to his own life. And I think the more he does it, the better he feels about it, and the more he wants to do.”
One of Phelps’s closest friends and fellow Olympian Allison Schmitt echoed similar sentiments in the report from Sports Illustrated.
“I think what he realized, at some point, was … he went through all these years, hurting, and just putting his head down and never being heard. But now he understands, and he hears people that are screaming but don’t necessarily know how to say the words I need help.”
Phelps will be honored with the award as a part of Sports Illustrated’s 2025 Sportsperson of the Year Celebration on January 6th in Las Vegas.
We just ignoring the idea that maybe, just maybe, some of his mental afflictions are a byproduct of so many years with Bob?
Exactly how many mental health advocate-athletes does U.S. sports need? It’s wearing thin. I can already think of Michael Phelps, Allison Schmitt, Naomi Osaka, Simone Biles, Kevin Love, Mikaela Shiffrin, Serena Williams, Demar DeRozan, Warrick Dunn, Noah Lyles, Dak Prescott, Chloe Kim, Laurie Hernandez, and Jordan Chiles. (I’m sure there are others.) It seems that a lot of these so-called “advocates” really just use the topic of their own illnesses either to draw attention to themselves, excuse certain of their own anti-social or negative behaviors or poor athletic performances, or for financial gain. Phelps, for one, now has a financial relationship (glossed over in SI article) with a publicly-traded company that provides mental health services. Very convenient.
It is interesting how Phelps and Lochte, who had such similar talents in the pool, have fared so differently out of the pool. Both had screwups but one landed on his feet and the other on his arse.
Which is which? Couldn’t tell you.
I just meant financially. I don’t know their earnings, but I imagine there were probably financial opportunities that Lochte lost as a result of playing second fiddle to Michael, but management of the opportunities he did have was another issue. It seems like Lochte is always trying to make a quick buck versus hammering down on a serious career beyond swimming.
U are right alcohol infused errors of judgement both
No sportsperson sets out with the ultimate goal to win this award. But ironically only the ultimately great win it. Very well deserved.
A “beacon of advocacy and support” according to Layden and Sports Illustrated? Really? I beg to differ. One misguided action after another…
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-15312259/michael-phelps-india-love-poker-las-vegas.html
The Daily Mail. 😂
aka the Daily Fail. Not in any way a reputable source.
I’d rather have a literal elephant literally sit on my literal head than read another one of your asinine comments
Ever read The The Daily Mail?
Edit: Oh, I remember you!! Penecillin vs steroids, right?
Yes, the Daily Mail and about ten other int’l news sites ran the story. Layden and Sports Illustrated’s previous articles on Phelps helped garner public sympathy and rescued Phelps’ public image from further deterioration after his second DUI arrest. Phelps has been on the cover of the magazine 12 times. It would appear that Sports Illustrated just gets called upon by Phelps’ p.r. agents to advocate on behalf of Phelps any time he needs public relations help and in exchange he attends their events.
Ew what? That’s actually creepy.
Yes, he’s been a great outspoken advocate for mental health, but…
is social media trolling USAS in the middle of the most important meet of the year hurting or helping athletes (and their own mental health/confidence) that represent our National Team? To clarify, USAS deserved the criticism, but IMO there is a time and place.
The GOAT and deserves a voice.
But that voice seems better served for mental health awareness than a voice for swimming.
It’s pretty funny to see someone chastising him for “time and place” about his comments 6 months ago when this article is about *checks notes* his work in mental health advocacy (and not mentioned by SI, but childhood water safety as well).
What is the time and place? It sounds like he tried to bring the message privately a number of times but was ignored, should he have waited til after the home Olympics?
Well deserved GOAT
Richly deserved!