Michael Phelps has thrown his support behind fellow Olympian Simone Biles and her decision to withdraw from two events at the Tokyo Games over mental health concerns, saying athletes need more support and people they can trust.
Phelps, who has been open about his own mental health struggles in the past and contemplated suicide after the 2012 Games, appeared on NBC's Today to say he respected Biles' decision to withdraw.
'We're human beings. We have emotions. We deal with things just like everybody else does. It's difficult.
'I would say we want support, we feel the love from everybody else,' he said.
On Tuesday night, while giving coverage of the Games for NBC, he said: 'Mental health over the last 18 months is something people are talking about.
'Nobody is perfect. So yes, it is OK not to be OK,' adding Biles' decision 'broke his heart.'
Phelps, who has been open about his own mental health struggles in the past and contemplated suicide after the 2012 Games, appeared on NBC's Today to say he respected Biles' decision to withdraw
Biles is shown in the stands on Wednesday night in Tokyo after announcing she will not take part in Thursday's solo competition
Biles, 24, who is widely considered the best gymnast of all time, has withdrawn from Thursday's solo event after withdrawing from Wednesday's team competition.
It's unclear if she will take part in the three other events that she is scheduled to participate in.
Michael Phelps said he contemplated suicide after the 2012 Olympic Games. He said he would suffer 'intense' lows and periods of depression after the Games
She hasn't released a statement about the decision but on Wednesday, she retweeted another gymnast's statement which said she'd been through enough trauma after enduring horrific sexual abuse at the hands of pedophile doctor Larry Nassar.
He remains in prison. Biles and other gymnasts who Nassar abused have been critical of USA Gymnastics' handling of their complaints about Nassar before he was jailed.
On Tuesday night, Phelps, in his NBC coverage, said: 'The easiest way for me to say this is athletes, and Olympic athletes in general.
'We need someone who we can trust, somebody that can let us be ourselves