Michael Phelps has not shied away from discussing the mental health struggles he faced during and after his time as a world-class Olympic athlete.
Now the 23-time gold medalist is using his voice literally — as the narrator and executive producer of “The Weight of Gold,” a documentary premiering Wednesday at 9 p.m. on HBO. The hour-long film features several high-profile athletes, such as snowboarder Shaun White, track star Lolo Jones, skier Bode Miller, speedskater Apolo Anton Ohno and figure skaters Sasha Cohen and Gracie Gold. They all echo Phelps in speaking up and challenging the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and their respective federations, to invest and encourage mental health counseling away from the pool, slopes, ice or track.