Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps made an appearance at Ross Park Mall in Pittsburgh on Saturday to sign autographs and help promote the opening of a new store prototype for Pittsburgh-based GNC and a sports drink, PureSport.
Phelps, a 14-time gold medalist, spent time with the Tribune-Review before a two-hour autograph session. He talked of topics ranging from why he endorses a sports drink he said helped him prepare for the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing to the controversies that led to a three-month suspension.
Phelps scaled the Mount Everest of Summer Olympics records by eclipsing Mark Spitz's seven gold medals tally in 1972 by winning eight during the Beijing Games.
Only months after leading the U.S. men's swimming team to 31 medals — including 12 gold — Phelps found himself embroiled in a controversy earlier this year after a photo showed him inhaling from a marijuana pipe.
First, the Baltimore native lost a major sponsor, Kellogg's, which featured him on its Corn Flakes box following his record-setting performances. Then, Phelps was suspended from competition for three months by USA Swimming. The sport's national governing body also cut off its financial support to Phelps for the same three-month period.
<,strong> > With so many supplements and nutrients on the market, why PureSport?
"The thing for me is I use all of the products that I'm sponsored by; not because I'm forced to but because I want to. PureSport helps me to accomplish my goals. I'm swimming so many events at meets, I have to be able to recover and get the right nutrients in my body at all times, and with PureSport it helps me.
"With my workout program, I have to be at peace and have all the nutrients in my body. I had (PureSport) right after every race at the Olympics, then moved on to the next race and was ready to go."
How grueling is your workout regimen?
"It's always extremely grueling. It's never ending. It's anywhere from three to five hours a day and six days a week. Football Sunday is my only day off."
How will you gear up for the 2012 Olympics in London?
"I won't change much in preparation for the Olympics. Everything that we've done in the past, we'll try to stick to it as much as we can. It's worked in the past, so we'll keep on moving forward."
What has changed about your life since the suspensions?
"You'll see me at my most comfortable level with kids. I'm the happiest when I'm around kids.
What has it taken to repair your image?
"I'm always myself. That's how I've always been, and I think that has helped me to overcome some of the negatives."
What about his image and his appeal with fans?
"I think one of the coolest things is that swimming has changed so much since I turned professional. I wanted to change the sport as much as I could. It's unbelievable how far it has come. The sport had been able to get such a level that an Olympic swimmer gets on 'Dancing With the Stars.' I've had a chance to do 'Shaq Vs.'
"To be able to have the opportunity to stuff like that and the support we have from everybody is one of the coolest things. It's something I wanted to see as a kid growing up, and now it's finally happening."
Can your beloved Baltimore Ravens dethrone the Pittsburgh Steelers as Super Bowl champions?
"You never know what can happen. Right now, we're No. 1 in the power rankings. It's early in the season. Who knows what's going to happen⢠There's always a huge rivalry between the Ravens and Steelers.
"It's always a good game. It's always a hard-hitting game. It's always fun to watch. I hope we don't lose three-for-three this year. I won't be a happy camper."
On signing Pittsburgh Steelers paraphernalia:
"I actually thought about that when I was coming in from the airport. I thought if someone brought a Terrible Towel, I don't know if I would be able to sign it. That would be tough. We're rivals - it's that simple." (There were no signs of any Terrible Towels in the crowd estimated at 600.)
How does he handle being a role model, considering the controversies?
"I looked up to Michael Jordan growing up, and I've been able to base my life around what he did in his sport. I wanted to change my sport the way he changed basketball. And having someone like that helped me to maybe try hard and work harder. If I can help a kid reach their goals and dreams, it's a pretty fulfilling thing for me. I'm glad that I've been able to turn things around in my life, and hopefully that will inspire some young people."
What is your next competitive event?
"I have no idea what meets I'm going to swim in, because my coach (Bob Bowman) decides all that. My goal right now, is just being prepared to compete."
How much longer can you compete at a world-class level and can you see yourself being competitive beyond the 2012 London Games?
"Hopefully, I have one more in me. After 2012, I'm not sure if I'll still be around. But we'll see."
What's your advice to young people, particularly when it comes to dealing with adversity?
"The biggest thing is to never give up. Everybody goes through some really tough times in their lives, and I think it depends on how you battle back from those. Nothing comes easy, and the harder you work the harder it gets sometimes.
