Michael’s mom Debbie Phelps has reportedly signed a deal with women’s clothing retailer Chico’s. She was approached by the company after they saw her wearing their clothes while watching her son swim his way to Olympic glory in Beijing.

The Chico’s outfit she was seen wearing in Beijing was purchased at a Chico’s in her hometown of Towson, MD.

Chico’s, based in Florida, sells a wide variety of sophisticated women’s clothing. The amount Debbie received for her new endorsement deal has yet to be revealed.

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Reserved for hollywood elite’s such as Tom Hanks and Steve Martin who are both members of the “Five Timers’ Club,” the 23 year old will open the show celebrating SNL’s 34 season. Ironically the musical guest Lil Wayne graced the song list of Phelps’ Ipod before his races in Beijing.

On top of SNL, the “Alltime Olympian” will also be making an appearance on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno earlier in the week on September 8.

Catch “Saturday Night Live’s” season premier on Sept. 13 at 11:30pm ET/PT on NBC.

FULL RELEASE:
New York, NY ˆ August 27, 2008 ˆ “Saturday Night Live” makes its 34th season premiere on Saturday, September 13 featuring two of the biggest names of the summer ˆ Michael Phelps and hip-hop superstar Lil Wayne.

US Olympic swimming phenomenon Michael Phelps will make his acting debut hosting the season premiere hot off his record-shattering performance in Beijing.

The SNL season premiere kicks off four live shows in a row, a rare practice that generated momentum for the show this past spring when the show returned after the WGA Strike-imposed hiatus. All told, seven all-new SNL’s will air on Saturdays prior to the election.

Phelps went a perfect 8-for-8 in Beijing, breaking Mark Spitz’s single-Games record for most gold medals won. In addition, Phelps broke another Olympics record, becoming the most decorated Olympian in history, winning a stunning 14 career gold medals. Phelps currently holds seven world records in swimming.

Unprecedented millions tuned in to watch Phelps in action, from the US Swim Team’s explosive victory over the French in the 4×100m freestyle relay, by just .08 of a second; to Phelps’ record-demolishing performance in the 4×200m freestyle relay breaking the record by more than four seconds and his seventh gold medal win, beating Serbia’s Milorad Cavic by the slimmest and most dramatic margin imaginable ˆ one-one-hundredth of a second.

Joining Phelps and also making his SNL debut is hip-hop superstar Lil Wayne.

 

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As if the 23 year olds presence in his signature events wasn’t enough to have his fellow swimmers reeling, Phelps also revealed that he is considering adding some new events to his repertoire.

“I am looking forward to trying some new events, some events I’ve never really had the opportunity to swim since my schedule is always so crowded,” Phelps, of Rodgers Forge, said yesterday while taking part in the British capital’s handover celebrations.

Phelps also revealed that 2012 in London will be his last run at Olympic gold.

“I’ve never wanted to go beyond 30,” he said. “I may go a few years beyond the Olympics. I said to my coach, ‘Don’t get any ideas, because I don’t want to compete beyond 30,’ and he said, ‘That’s good, because I don’t want to coach you past the age of 30.’”

Amazingly Phelps talked about departing from the successful training program that brought him his 14 Olympic gold medals. His coach, Bob Bowman, was the one who suggested it. Bowman told Phelps that his new approach at coaching will be to throw everything out the door and try something different.

To most humans, the saying of “if it aint broke don’t fix it” would apply, but Phelps is no ordinary human. His 8 gold medal run in Beijing was something truly special and perhaps meant to be.

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Phelps (left) and Cavic (right).

 There is no doubt that the finish in the 100m butterfly between Michael Phelps and Milorad Cavic of Serbia was ridiculously close.

Phelps edged out the Serbian by one one-hundreth of a second to clinch his seventh gold medal in the Beijing Games, tying Mark Spitz’ record of seven golds in a single Olympic Games.

But to the naked eye it was impossible to tell who won and even looked like Cavic might have touched first in the replay. Well a new digital photo sequence has been released by Omega that should help clear the air a little regarding the finish. Omega timer Silvio Chianese explained why he believes the results are clear.

Phelps (left) and Cavic (right).

“In the third set of images, with Phelps on the left, it is clear he is really pushing hard, while Cavic, on the right, is just arriving,” Chianese told The Associated Press on Saturday.

I think thats what made the difference. Cavic was touching the pad first but Phelps was the first to actually apply enough pressure to push it in and activate the technology.

According to Chianese, it takes 6.6 pounds of pressure to activate the touchpad.

Phelps (left) and Cavic (right).

“Any less and waves would set it off,” Chianese said. “You can’t just put your fingertips on the pad, you really have to push it. We explained all this directly after the race to (Cavic) and his coach.”

Chianese went on the say that the result was clear minutes after the photo finish.

“For us, it was clear five minutes after.”

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But the whereabouts of Michael’s dad remained a mystery throughout the Olympics. Who was his dad and where was he during the most important event of his sons life?

After a little investigating by “Fourth Place Medal’s Investigative Unit,” we have our answer.

Apparently Fred Phelps was at home in Baltimore watching his son snag his record 8 gold medals on TV. Fred told the Baltimore Sun that he was “on pins and needles” everytime his son dove into the pool for an event.

Unfortunately, the retired Maryland State Trooper, hasn’t had the gonads to call and congratulate his son for his accomplishments, according to the New York Post.

Fred and Debbie divorced in 1993 when Michael was only 9 years old. Since then the two have had little contact due to a damaged relationship.

This isn’t the first time that Fred has avoided communication with his son. According to Michael, who spoke to a reporter before the 2004 Olympics, his dad didn’t even bother to call and congratulate him when he set his very first world record. Hmm I wonder which side of the family Michael got his winning ways from?

His dad did however manage to make it to Athens in 2004 to witness his sons 6 gold medal performances. Following the Athens Games, their relationship once again soured.

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The media whirlwind surrounding Phelps in recent days has led to rumors of the swimmer being connected to teammate Amanda Beard and British fashion model Lily Donaldson.

During an interview with Extra’s Dayna Devon, Phelps cleared the air and put to rest any rumors that he is dating Amanda Beard. As for Lily Donaldson, only time will tell.

“No, I’m not dating Amanda Beard. I’ll say that. I think she has a boyfriend.” When asked if he’s single, he responds, “Part of my life is kept to myself. I’m able to relax and be with my friends. Those pretty much are the only people who really know the answer to that question.”

Amanda Beard, two-time Olympic gold medallist and captain of the 2008 swim team, made headlines in Beijing but not for her swimming talent which allowed her to medal in the last three Olympic Games. In fact, in a shocking turn of events, Beard finished 6th in her 200m breaststroke heat and failed to advance to the semifinals in Beijing.

Instead Beard left her wet-suit behind and used the Olympic platform for her political agenda which included unveiling her nude anti-fur campaign poster for animal rights organization PETA.

The protest, originally scheduled to take place in a hotel conference room that officials ended up locking down, instead took place just outside of the athletes’ village on Wednesday morning August 6th.

The poster (pictured above) reads:

BE COMFORTABLE
IN YOUR OWN SKIN.
DON’T WEAR FUR.

This isn’t the first time the American swimmer has shown her “ass”ets in public. Beard posed nude for the July 2007 edition of Playboy Magazine (+18 see pics).

Amanda Beard Gallery

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This is the fifth time Phelps has graced the cover of the prestigious sports magazine. Mark Spitz, who Phelps surpassed with his astonishing 8 gold medal run, made the cover three times.

On the new cover, Phelps, who is labeled “The Alltime Olympian,” replicates the famous 1972 pose of Mark Spitz when he won his record 7 gold medals. The photo signifies a new era in Olympic champions with Michael Phelps winning a world record 8 gold medals in Beijing.

The photo was taken by SI’s Simon Bruty inside an ancient temple on Sunday night in Beijing.

Here is a gallery of Michael Phelps’ five Sports Illustrated covers in descending order.

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Not only did he swim his way past Mark Spitz who held the previous record of seven gold medals in one Olympics, but he also crushed the competition in total gold medals won with a career 14 gold medals. Thats 4 more than Track and Field’s Raymond Ewry.

He also tied Eric Heiden’s record of 5 individual gold medals won in a single Olympic Games.

On top of that he set seven world records in Beijing missing a world record in only one of his eight events, the 100m butterfly, in which he still set an Olympic record.

The only major record that Phelps lacks is in overall medals which is held by Soviet gymnast Larissa Latynina who has 18 (9 gold) compared to Michael’s 16. However, Phelps could easily glide by Latynina at the 2012 London Games.

Michael Phelps 2008 Gold Medal Run:

• (Aug. 10, 2008) 400m individual medley (Gold Medal, World Record) Time: 4:03.84
• (Aug. 11, 2008) 4×100m freestyle relay (Gold Medal, World Record ) Time: 3:08.24
• (Aug. 12, 2008) 200m freestyle (Gold Medal, World Record) Time: 1:42.96
• (Aug. 13, 2008) 200m butterfly (Gold Medal, World Record) Time: 1:52.03
• (Aug. 13, 2008) 4×200m freestyle relay (Gold Medal, World Record) Time: 6:58.56
• (Aug. 15, 2008) 200m individual medley (Gold Medal, World Record) Time: 1:54.23
• (Aug. 16, 2008) 100m butterfly (Gold Medal, Olympic Record) Time: 50.58
• (Aug. 17, 2008) 4×100m medley relay (Gold Medal, World Record) Time: 3:29.34

If there is any question of Phelps’ status as the “Greatest Olympian of All Time”, London in 2012 should cement his legacy.

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