Behind The Pages Of Amanda Beard's 'In The Water They Can't See You Cry'

STUDIO CITY (CBS) — In her candid and ultimately uplifting book, "In The Water They Can't See You Cry: A Memoir," Olympic swimming star Amanda Beard reveals the truth about coming of age in the spotlight, the demons she battled along the way, and the newfound happiness that has proved to be her greatest victory.

She stopped by KCAL9 Thursday to talk about her memoir.

Beard has grown up before the American public and the world—swimming in four Olympics and winning a total of seven medals. She's also become a sex symbol, enjoying a lucrative modeling career gracing the pages of magazines and posing for the cover of Playboy. But behind the glamorous façade, Beard was a deeply insecure and troubled young woman.

Unaware that she was suffering from clinical depression, she was terrified that someone would find out the truth about her life and think of her as fragile and weak.

No one, not even her closest friends and family, knew of the turmoil she was going through. Though inside she felt terrible about herself, she hid her pain behind a mega-watt smile. With no other outlet for her feelings besides the pool, Beard expressed her emotions through self-destructive behavior. In her late teens and twenties, she became bulimic, abused drugs and alcohol, and started cutting herself. Her low self-esteem led to toxic relationships with high-profile men in the sports world.

It wasn't until her boyfriend (now husband) caught her cutting herself, that she finally got help and began to feel healthier and happier. Through her newfound faith in herself, the love of her husband and family, and finally the birth of her baby boy, Blaise, Beard has transformed her life. In these pages, she speaks frankly about her struggles with depression, the pressures to be thin, and the unhealthy relationships she confused for love.

Meet Amanda Beard at the following book signing: