WASHINGTON — Allison Schmitt hates public speaking. But the Olympic swimmer shared her story of battling depression in a packed auditorium Thursday night as part of National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day.
“I get sweaty hands; I feel like I’m going to throw up. I never want to speak in front of people,” said Schmitt, the eight-time Olympic medalist. “When it comes to mental health, I love it. A whole new me comes out. I think it’s because I’m so passionate about it. I can speak from the heart and I really want to spread the word that it’s OK not to be OK.