Michael Phelps in Santa Clara, Calif. in 2009. Photograph by J.D. Lasica.
Michael Phelps has entered an alcohol treatment program, this as USA Swimming has suspended him from the sport until March. (He has a Nov. 19 court date for his recent, second DUI arrest.) So he won’t be taking part in the short-course world championships in Doha, Qatar Dec. 3-7 with Ryan Lochte and company. (Maybe he wouldn’t have swum short course anyway.) In any event, no Phelpte for a while.
It’s all terribly sad, particularly as Phelps has been doing his usual superb Phelpsian job on the aquatic comeback trail. And you don’t want to take away something that gives a person purpose.
But sometimes in life you have to put your career on hold to get your house in order.
It is a humbling experience to ask for assistance. It must be tremendously humbling to seek help for an addiction.
I wish Phelps all the best.