MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Michael Phelps expressed sympathy for Tiger Woods and his family on Thursday because of the scrutiny resulting from the golfer's admitted infidelity.
"He's going through a hard time right now I assume — I've no idea what he is going through — but it can't be easy, I just wish him the best for himself and his family," said Phelps, who's in Manchester, England, for the "Duel in the Pool" swim meet. "I'd be the first to admit I've made a lot of mistakes both in and out of the pool.
Phelps, who won a record eight Olympic gold medals in Beijing, was photographed three months later inhaling from a marijuana pipe.
"Of the mistakes I've made I've never made the same mistake again," Phelps said. "I've become a much stronger person, and I've helped other people not make the same mistakes."
After the photograph of Phelps was published in a British tabloid, USA Swimming suspended him for three months. He went on to win five golds and a silver at the July world championships in Rome.
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