Olympic gold medalist Phelps to speak in Cd'A

Thanks to the work of local students, decorated Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer Michael Phelps will come to Coeur d'Alene to speak about mental health.

Phelps is scheduled to speak at 7 p.m. May 21 at the Kroc Center during a community event, "Swimming Against Stigma," and to students at Coeur d'Alene and Lake City high schools during assemblies May 22.

"We just took our shot and reached out to him, and they were interested," CHS senior and co-founder of the Interact Club of Coeur d'Alene Alexander Nipp said Wednesday. "We pulled some strings along the way to bring him here and we are excited about that."

Students involved in the Interact Club of Coeur d'Alene, a youth service group of Coeur d'Alene Rotary, come from CHS, LCHS, Post Falls High and Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy. They have been working with the Michael Phelps Foundation for about two months to bring the celebrated American swimmer to the Lake City. The foundation is a fundraising program for nonprofits dedicated to promoting mental and physical health, opportunities for participation in the sport of swimming and the pursuit of dreams.

Phelps, the most-decorated athlete in Olympic history with 28 medals, including a record 23 gold, has been public about his own mental health struggles since 2015. He has been open about his alcohol abuse and rehabilitation, anxiety and depression. As a mental health advocate, he shares his experiences with audiences everywhere.

Established July 2022, the Coeur d'Alene Interact Club encourages students to get involved in their community and to participate in at least two projects each year, one that helps their school or community and one that promotes international understanding. Bringing awareness to mental health in North Idaho is its primary focus for the 2022-2023 Rotary year.

Nipp, 18, said he discovered Phelps' mental health presentations as the club decided what to focus on this year.

"I was just scrolling through articles about mental health and I saw Michael Phelps," Nipp said. "He does presentations across the country. Everything that he has been working on with his foundation aligns with our focus."

When the foundation agreed to have Phelps visit North Idaho, Nipp said he was ecstatic for his club as well as the community.

"Mental health has really devastated the youth in our community," he said. "One thing kids struggle with is reaching out."

Nipp's Interact colleague, Lake City junior Luke Sharon, 16, said mental health awareness is close to his heart and something about which he deeply cares.

"For me, since freshman year, I’ve had a peer who passed away, and this year, I had a friend pass away because of drug abuse,” he said. "We both had this same vision of trying to bring a more general view of mental health awareness not only to our schools, but to our community."

He said a lot of local students haven’t had a year in their secondary schooling without a tragedy.

"I’ve been really trying to make an impact," Sharon said. "Having someone like Michael Phelps, who is globally known and really esteemed because of his athletic abilities, my hope is that it shows the community and our students it’s OK to care about your well-being and mental health."

Amy Voeller, director of development for the Kroc Center, said the leadership of the Interact students has been incredible as they have endeavored to bring Phelps to Coeur d'Alene.

"Their vision to support mental wellness for our youth is something we all have to support," Voeller said, adding the event aligns with what the Kroc is already doing this year as it focuses on mental health for youth and families.

"It's a natural fit," she said. "We’re encouraging the community to attend knowing it's going to benefit the students who get to hear from him that Monday."

Tickets to attend "Swimming Against Stigma" are $75 and will be available at kroccda.org/tickets Friday. The proceeds will cover Phelps' appearances at the high schools, where about 75 middle school students who participate in Sources of Strength, a youth mental health and suicide prevention program, will also attend.