And now, from the University of Chicago Institute of Politics and CNN, the Axviles, with your

host, David Axelrod.

Michael Phelps is indisputably one of the greatest Olympians of all time, perhaps the greatest

male athlete of all time.

But he continues as a champion of a different sort today.

A champion for people with mental illness.

Michael has turned his own battle with depression and suicidal thoughts into a new mission, not

to chase medals, but to save lives.

We sat down in Phoenix this week and talked about that mission and his journey.

Michael Phelps, great to be with you again.

You know, you have two stories that are sort of separate but very much related.

Both admirable, both also filled with challenge.

I want to kind of explore both of them.

And you know, as I said when we got together before, people think of you as the guy in the

Wheaties box, but life is more complicated than that.

Tell me about growing up in Maryland and what your life was like as a kid.

Well, yeah, growing up in Maryland, my mom put myself and my sisters all in the water,

strictly just for water safety.

That was the only reason why we ever started in the pool.

And we grew up around the summer pool.

So we were always playing and splashing around.

And my mom just wanted us to be safe whenever we were around the pool.

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