Michael Phelps' Gold Medal Spitz Take On "Sports Illustrated" Cover

Olympic hero Michael Phelps graces the cover of Sports Illustrated on newsstands Thursday. On it, he mimics and one-ups the iconic image of Mark Spitz wearing 7 gold medals that was on posters sold for $2 back in 1972.

With 8 gold medals from Beijing around his neck, Phelps smiles from beneath the label "The Alltime Olympian" The photo was taken inside an ancient temple in Beijing on Sunday night

"This one being the first [photo] of him with all eight medals, we hope that our cover will stick in everyone's mind," SI's managing editor Terry McDonell said.

Phelps also tops Spitz on the number of SI covers on which he's featured: 5-3.

Also today, Phelps addressed reports he is dating fellow swimmer Amanda Beard.

Comments

[BruntLIVE]

I agree Spitz looks like a porn star, I bet he got alot of tail back in the day on that photo. The photo says "yeah, I swim, what of it? We gonna do this or what babe?"

[EarthToZoey]

Hahaha. All his lady friends wanted the L.D. ;)

[TurgidCaterwauling]

Not to diminish Phelps' achievement in any way, but Sptiz wins the photo competition.

[BabsfromKansas]

How much faster could've Mark Spitz swum without all the hair?

[grumpygranny66]

Babs: I must admit that's a lot of hair but, in the 60's and early 70's

that hairstyle was consider cool and groovy. Boy do I miss the good old days,
Make me want to turn back the hands of time..

[Nyland8]

What an awful picture! What were they thinking?

He looks like he just won the "Special Olympics".

8

[JICC]

What you see is what you get. I find this photo (and him) very much forgettable. Spitz on the other hand has the personality to go with the achievements, and the gravitas for his image to last.

[EarthToZoey]

Hahaha..... I hate to admit it because I think Phelps is a cutie... but yeah, he does look pretty "special" in that picture...

[Crozier]

Hey, by "special" , would you be using a code word like " gay or bi ", would you now???? As if gay men or women have not won Olympic Gold? When will this society mature?

[cjk002]

Does anyone else think it looks like Phelps is wearing some kind of Thai-inspired tube-top? Before I knew what the picture was, I thought it was some kind of joke.

[aphid]

Sure, it looks like the top of an ill-fitting tankini.

Does the LZR get a gold medal too?

[rini]

Yeah, maybe the medals should have been suspended on a fine gold chain, like Spitz's.

I guess color coordination was important,

real smooth.

[chinationreport]

Nike just launched a stunning new pring ad all over China in support of Liu Xiang, the hurdler that did not make it. If Phelps is the most shining lucky star from the US, Liu Xiang is the most shining unlucky star from China. Nike continues to use Liu in its ad and made a poem which goes like this:
"Love competition. Love risking your pride. Love winning it back. Love giving it everything you’ve got. Love the glory. Love the pain. Love sport even when it breaks your heart."
The new ad featuers: 'One day and ten years of a hero' in a very dramtic and touching way.

I thought I'd like to share this with you.
http://www.chinationreport.com/ for your daily news and views about China

[johnnygoodwud]

brazilian package?

[BowlingForRevenge]

Phelps looks like he's wearing a Chinese hookers halter top!!!!
but seriously bravo to him and to Mark Spitz. for blazing the trail.
Swimming is a grueling thankless sport that only gets the spotlight every 4 years. I spent too many a cold morning at pools with my shivering son when he was younger only to go to school and be laughed at by the football/baseball guys....he switched to tennis...same laughs but that's OK with him as he's was and is in better shape than ANY of them could ever dream of being.

[theistus]

jesus, u can almost see his crotch. wtfomgbbq

[NTO08]

Thank the lord...LOL...

I am waiting for the Wheaties box...gonna be awesome...anyone know when it's coming?

BTW, despite NBC's Olympic gold with wins in almost all of the top 10 spots for each night of the Games, NBC's best Saturday night perf was back in 1990 with none other than The Golden Girls...not even Phelps' eighth medal could top Dorothy and company...ha!

[marred]

Phelps is talented but Spitz did it with a moustache so he gets my vote over Phelps. I tell you what Phelps is lucky he can swim coz he ain't pretty. Is it just me or does he look like a hobbit on growth hormones?

[NTO08]

He's not pretty, but his bod is smoking...yeah, baby!

[gdaerin]

ewww

[maestra1985]

Was I the only one hoping Phelps would lose a race so I could hear the reaction of the announcers and see the horror on the faces of everyone present?

I, for one, am glad that swimming is over. Now, when gymnastics is over, I'll be happier.

[gdaerin]

you were not alone!

[Destin]

What is it with guys with no hair? Spitz had hair. Phelps has the dorky looking buzzcut. Why do men choose to look so horrible?

[retmarut]

No hair is faster in the water, of course.

[Destin]

Well, there's a reason they make the skin caps, so that women aren't swimming baldheaded. If it works for women, why not men?

[Destin]

Shocked nobody went after my skin cap comment. Was ready to pounce, pointing out that the men are now wearing the female swimsuits/skinsuits. Probably embarassed cause they were the slower of the gender until they started wearing them. ;)

[yabu]

Hair is for monkeys.

[EarthToZoey]

At first I thought Phelps was wearing a halter top with a nip slip.

He does have a hot body though.... I demand Speedos in the next Olympics!

[NTO08]

I second that...no more of those stupid tights!

[InofTouch]

those stupid tights are made by Speedos....

[walk0nwalls]

Soon after taking this picture Michael Phelps will then go on to claim his rightful position as king of Atlantis and do battle with the Human Torch over Manhattan.

[GeorgeGlass]

You gotta love a Gold Age of comics reference! Well done!

[Rendon76]

Spitz looks like a 70's porn star.

[barbwiregrrl]

I take it you hve seen alot of 70's porn?