Yeah, my friends call me Mike, Michael or just my last name.

Swimming is normal for me. I'm relaxed. I'm comfortable, and I know my surroundings. It's my home.

There's such a high stigma around talking about your feelings or insecurities because, especially for men, we don't want to show that "weakness." But I'm always like, "OK, what would you rather do: Show weakness and get better, or continue to get worse and who knows where that leads?" There's something behind the suicide rate continuing to climb year after year. Why don't we ask for help?

I know it won't be eight medals again. If you want to compare me to that, that's your decision, not mine. I'm going out there to try to accomplish the things that I have in my mind and in my heart.

Before the (Olympic) trials I was doing a lot of relaxing exercises and visualization. And I think that that helped me to get a feel of what it was gonna be like when I got there. I knew that I had done everything that I could to get ready for that meet, both physically and mentally

Swimming is more than a once-every-four-years sport. My goal is to bring attention to swimming - to give it some personality.

Before, it came easy for me. I don't have two speeds anymore. I need to focus on the small things that I once took for granted.