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What's with Phelps' beard?

Posted: Thursday, August 07, 2008 6:05 PM by Jen Brown
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Image: U.S. swimmer Michael PhelpsThere have been questions surrounding Michael Phelps since he arrived here in Beijing on Tuesday evening: Will he win eight golds? Will he establish his place in history as the most dominant swimmer of all time? And, perhaps more importantly ... what is with that facial hair?

Matt Lauer put that question to Phelps this week while interviewing him for a segment that aired today. Contrary to popular belief, Phelps is not channeling Mark Spitz circa 1972 in order to break his record of the most gold medals won at a single Olympic Games. In fact, the answer is not that exciting at all:

Image: American swimmer champion Mark Spitz shows five of his seven Olympic gold medals"Just messing around a little bit," he said.  "Just having a little fun, is all."

Phelps said the 'stache is going to go tonight or tomorrow, well before his first preliminary heat on Saturday morning.

So...enjoy it while you can?
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Comments

Thank goodness he's getting rid of it!  He looks ridiculous !

Kim, Austin, TX (Sent Saturday, August 09, 2008 12:09 AM)

The facial hair thing is a training tool a lot of male competitive swimmers use to enhance their race performance.  When they "shave down" before a big event (including chest, legs, arms, soles of the feet and palms of the hands) the resulting tingling sensation gives the competitor super enhanced 'water feel'.  This translates to slightly faster times.  I don't know why Phelps gave Lauer such a coy answer.  It's not like shaving down is a state secret.

G.Mac, British Columbia (Sent Saturday, August 09, 2008 9:41 AM)

I'm just beginning my high school swimming years. I'd like to have a CD of the opening ceremonies, all the swimming events and the closing ceremonies. Where can I get something like this?

Victor Garcia (Sent Sunday, August 10, 2008 8:35 AM)

He looks like evil Spock.

Elaine Johnson, Oregon City, OR (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 2:08 AM)

I WONDER WHY WE HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT MARK SPITZ. WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT IF HE IS NOT THE ONE TO PRESENT MICHAEL PHELPS WITH HIS 8TH GOLD MEDAL IF IT HAPPENS. WHAT IS THE STORY ABOUT MARK SPITZ'S LACK OF MEDIA ATTENTION AND HIS PRESCENCE NOT IN BEJING.

SHARON PERRY ELMA, NEW YORK (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 9:59 AM)

Where is Mark Spitz? He would have been a great commentader for the swimming event. He shoud  have been invited to watch Phelps beat his record. What a great piece it would be to have them together.

mary schiltz (Sent Tuesday, August 12, 2008 9:15 PM)

Really disappointing that Mark Spitz is not there to watch and congratulate Michael Phelps this week... what an exiting interview it would be ...to have Mark Spitz there watching in the wings seeing if his record of the most gold medals won at a single Olympic Games is broken... too bad!

Gina Consiglio, Old Greenwich, CT (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 8:12 AM)

Is swimming the only event going on? If you watch the coverage you would think so. The only topic they seem to really cover is Plephs. What happened to the other 600 plus other athletes?

There must be many human interest stories about our athletes of the american team that could be talked about and even other athletes ( there are 11,000) at the games this year.

Steve (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:43 AM)



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