Michael Phelps Opens Up About His Mental Health

What's up Sunshine? Koi Wire here with your daily 10 minutes of news where we simply tell you the what letting you decide. what to think. Today we have a toxic chemical tank in Southern California that has officials racing against the clock. Then I sit down with legendary swimmer Michael Phelps for a heartfelt chat this mental health awareness month and later

We're headed deep into the heart of Texas, where nearly 300 rescued pigs are something you have to see. CNN 10 starts now. We do begin in Southern California where crews are scrambling to prevent an overheating chemical tank. from triggering a disaster movie level nightmare. Emergency officials say soaring temperatures inside the tank could cause a dangerous rupture, releasing thousands of gallons of methyl methacrylate.

a toxic industrial chemical into the air. More than fifty thousand people have now been ordered to evacuate parts of Orange County. Our Veronica Miracle has more in the effort to prevent a potentially catastrophic explosion. Hi Veronica. Coy, we finally got some good news after authorities were working around the clock all night. They found that a crack inside of this pressurized tank has been releasing pressure.

And what that means is that a massive explosion is off the table. That is the good news. Now the threat is still not over because this tank has a very toxic chemical inside known as MMA. And that could still explode, a smaller explosion, but it could still happen. Right now they're trying to mitigate the risk.

and see what exactly is happening inside the tank. They believe that it's possible that the chemical could be solidifying, which is also good news because the temperature inside the tank is going down. At last check it was about 93 degrees. where they really wanted it as is at 85 degrees. So authorities are going to continue to monitor this. Evacuations have not yet decreased. 50,000 people are still under evacuation orders.

And so there is still risk to life and property here in case anything happens. And they want to make sure that everything is safe before they let people come back to their homes. So many people have been affected this Memorial Day weekend. They've been forced out of their homes and forced to go into hotels and evacuation centers. But authorities say they're going to be giving us an update soon and they hope to let people back home as soon as it is safe. Back to you Koi.

The racing world is grieving, NASCAR icon Kyle Bush. Bush died suddenly last week at just forty one years old. Severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, a body wide response to infection that can cause serious, often fatal, organ and tissue damage. Across 22 seasons, Bush racked up more wins across NASCAR's top three series than anyone ever. He was scheduled to race in the Coca-Cola 600 last weekend, but the race transformed into a memorial service with nearly 95,000 fans.

saying bye to one of the fiercest competitors the sport has known. Before the race his family laid flowers on his number eight in the infield His team announced his number would be retired until his son Brexton is old enough to chase the family legacy himself. Papquiz Hotshot, what swimming stroke is Olympian Michael Phelps especially known for? Butterfly, freestyle, backstroke or side stroke?

If you said Butterfly, spread your wings. Phelps has won 11 Olympic medals in Butterfly, nine of them gold. With 23 golds overall, he's the most decorated Olympian of all time.

When people think of Michael Phelps, they think gold medals, world records, and dominance in the pool unlike anything swimming has ever seen. But behind the smiles and medals was a man silently battling anxiety and severe depression. Now during Mental Health Awareness Month, the 23-time Olympic gold medalist is speaking out with remarkable honesty, hoping his story helps others feel less alone. Here's part of my conversation with the GOAT.

You've won more gold medals than anyone in Olympic history, but you you've also said that some of your toughest battles happened far away from the pool. When you look back now, what do you wish younger Michael understood about mental health? You know, I love getting asked that question and it hasn't changed and and it's nothing because I think what I've gone through myself personally has allowed me to learn more about who I am as a human. Um and and yeah, has it

Has it been challenging at times and uncomfortable at times? Of course. But you know, again, like for me, I'm more comfortable being my authentic self and living my life how I want to live. Was there a specific moment where you realized if I speak up maybe I can help other people do the same?

Um, I honestly think it's it's really when I got to that point of not wanting to be alive. Um, you know, for me, I think once I got to that point, I was like, okay, something is wrong. I need to ask for help. And that was the first time that I ever asked for help. Um, because I I just didn't know what to do.

Uh, so I got help and then I think at that point, um, for me just being able to find that kind of ground to stand on and be okay sharing the stories that I talk about. Um, because, you know, being able to see my Olympic brothers and sisters They were going through the same thing. Mental Health Awareness Month, your foundation is doing such incredible work. So when you see the lives you're impacting, how does that compare to all the medals and the record books?

One in every three high schoolers reported that their mental health is not good for the most part. Right. So at that point, what are we doing more for that? How can we offer more things? And for me, when I look at where our foundation started to where it is now, right? We started back in 2008.

Where it was strictly just to learn uh learn to swim. Um I got a million dollars from a bonus from uh uh an old sponsor, and I instantly put it into starting that. Gradually over time, we developed a mental health component.

And yes, I still am who I am. Water safety is very important in the Phelps household. And for me, it's really cool to say that we're one of three foundations out there that combine water safety and mental health. And for me you know, when I go back to what I went through as a kid, right, and what I'm going through now in therapy, you know, I've learning that water safety and mental mental health, they really are hand in hand. Like for me.

If I'm in a bad space and therapy doesn't help and my checklist doesn't help, I can literally just jump in the swimming pool and swim for five hundred yards. And for those who don't know, that's like a fortieth of what I would do for a practice. And that would make me feel ten times better, right? So it's Some of these small things I truly think by body, mind, awareness, there's so much connection. Um and it's so powerful that May is is uh water safety month and mental health awareness month.

Um, but for me again, it's it's just trying to spread this message. Um, you know, this is something obviously is very passionate for me. Um, we're trying to empower lives in and out of the water. And if we can do that, for me. I'm winning, right? That's way way better than winning a gold medal. This last one, rapid fire inside the mind of Michael Phelps, most ridiculous superstition.

Nothing. I guess the only thing that I did that that people thought I was doing on purpose to kind of mess with them was my arm slap. That was something I did as an 11-year-old. kid, eight, you know, ten year old kids throughout my whole entire career. It was just a way for me to kind of get loose and there were people that thought I was doing it to try to play mind games on him, but no, I'm not I'm not like that.

What is uh harder workout, training for the Olympics or chasing your kids around the house? Any kind of sports games in the backyard because Multiple Out for three or four days. It does happen no matter how much you work out, no matter how much you take care of your body. Favorite way to decompress meat.

A lot of people might think I'm crazy, but is sitting in a in a in a cold plunge. Um, work on your breathing and and that's something how I start my day. Uh first thing in the morning, five, five fifteen every day I'm in there. Love sharing your story, man. So great to catch up with you. Appreciate it. Always good to see you, homie.

Today's story getting a 10 out of 10, a rescue sanctuary where life is anything but boring. Everything's bigger in Texas? That's certainly the case at My Pig Filled Life. From piglets to potbildies, nearly three hundred oinkers call this rescue home. This swine subdivision, Pork Palace, this hambassador headquarters founded by Melanie Moreau a decade ago, has grown into a full blown hog motel.

Everyone knows cats and dogs need rescue, but people don't know that many pigs do, and that demand is higher. Outside of her job, Melanie feeds, treats, and cares for these hoofed house guests, and while minding mud, mess, and mountains of pig chow is enough to drive anyone hog wild, she says it is worth it. You can look into their eyes and see into their soul. The sentient nature is it's undescribable.

Melanie hopes the rescue can educate future owners about caring for pigs and keep more animals out of shelters. If you live nearby and want help, good news. She's always looking for volunteers to bring home the bacon. Emotionally speaking, of course. Our first shout out today goes all the way to Mr. Hulula at Hong Kong International School in Taitam, Hong Kong. Rise up and thank you for subscribing and commenting on our CNN 10 YouTube channel.

And Mrs. Mushrow at Scotts Valley High School in California, she's been sharing CNN with students for more than 15 years and honestly that means the world to us. But He made a point to send us this hand-stitched needlepoint. You are so talented. And honestly, this has us in stitches. Make it a terrific Tuesday, everyone. We'll see you right back here tomorrow. I'm Koi Wire. We are CNN 10.