OLYMPICS

Michael Phelps Talks ‘Downward Spiral' Leading to DUI Arrest

The 22-time medal winner said he didn't want to compete at the London Olympics in 2012

The most decorated Olympian of all time, who's also set to compete in Rio this August, revealed he didn't want "anything to do" with competitive swimming leading into the London Olympics in 2012.

In an exclusive interview with "Today's" Matt Lauer, Michale Phelps said he "had a lot of struggle getting through the four years" after making Olympic history in Beijing in 2008 and "didn't know what [he] wanted to do."

The 18-time gold medalist admitted to having lost interest in swimming and began missing practices, leading to brutal fights with his longtime coach, Bob Bowman.

"I sent myself down a downward spiral...I was at the lowest place I've ever been," Phelps said of his DUI arrest in 2014. "Honestly, I sort of at one point, I just, I felt like I didn't wanna see another day — felt like it should be over."

Phelps eventually checked himself into a rehab facility in Arizona. Asked if he considered himself to be an alcoholic, Phelps told Lauer "I don't know. I honestly don't know."

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