When Michael Phelps took his first dip in the pool last week after being out of the water for more than a month, he felt far from golden.
“It didn’t feel very good,” he said. “My body felt good afterwards, but it hurt a little more than it should have.”
Baltimore’s golden boy still has nearly four years before he must regain his world-class form for the 2012 London Games. But until he begins serious training in February, the 14-time gold medalist will enjoy being a celebrity.
Phelps, 23, is enjoying his victory lap, as the Rodgers Forge resident has had a parade in his honor at Disney World, hosted “Saturday Night Live,” been a guest at the MTV Video Music Awards, appeared on numerous other television shows and is expected to have a cameo on the season finale of HBO’s “Entourage.”
He has even started his own charity, the Michael Phelps Foundation. The nonprofit promotes healthy, active lifestyles in children, especially through swimming. Phelps started his non-profit group with the $1 million bonus he received from Speedo after tying — and later breaking — Mark Spitz’s record of seven gold medals in a single Olympics.
His group got an even bigger boost on Thursday morning at Meadowbrook Aquatic Center, when Kellogg’s Corporate Citizenship Fund donated $250,000 to his charity. The donation was part of a press conference where Phelps and Kellogg Co. unveiled limited edition boxes of Frosted Flakes, Corn Flakes, Club Crackers and Rice Krispie Treats bearing his image.
But his pals across the country were more impressed with who was with the Olympian on the box.
“My friends were joking with me, asking, ‘So you’re going to be [on Frosted Flakes] with Tony the Tiger?’” Phelps said. “I said ‘Yup, it’s pretty cool.’”
Phelps’ whirlwind tour of the country is winding down. He was scheduled to be honored in Ann Arbor before Michigan’s football game against Wisconsin on Saturday afternoon. On Oct. 4, he will be honored by Maryland along with other Olympians with a parade through Baltimore.
After the celebration, he will settle into his home in Fells Point. He’ll also continue to keep an eye on his favorite team: the Ravens.
“[Joe] Flacco looks like he’s playing well, a real smart quarterback,” he said with a smile. “The defense looks sick and [running back Willis] McGahee is starting to line up a little bit. They definitely look good.”
