The Article says:

But not everything in Phelps' life was "golden." He struggled with depression. Sometimes he still does.

Which means the opposite of golden?

pleasant
awful
easy
strange

1 answer

The opposite of "golden" in this context is "awful." In the phrase, "golden" symbolizes something positive or good, while the mention of struggles with depression suggests a negative aspect of Phelps' life, which aligns with "awful."