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Olympian Phelps ready for marathon of appearances from Towson to College
Park
By Stephen Kiehl
Baltimore Sun
Olympic swimming star Michael Phelps returns to Baltimore today with
a schedule as packed as the one he kept in Athens.
From a morning swim session with kids at Loyola College to an autograph
signing event in Towson to Disney's "Swim with the Stars"
program in College Park tonight, Phelps has a full day.
The Rodgers Forge resident has not been in Baltimore since before last
month's Summer Olympics, where he won a record-setting six gold and
two bronze medals. He flew from Athens straight to Orlando, Fla., for
the kickoff of Disney's "Swim with the Stars" - an exhibition
that will serve as an extended victory lap of sorts, taking him to 12
cities in just over a month.
In each city, Phelps stars in the swimming program and also participates
in a separate event for local schoolkids. Meanwhile, he's led a parade
at Disney World and appeared on Live with Regis and Kelly and Access
Hollywood.
Through it all, he's had to find two hours each day for training; the
FINA World Swimming Championships get under way in Indianapolis starting
Oct. 7. Often, said his mother Debbie Phelps, he arrives at events early
to practice in the pool with his Disney tour co-stars, Lenny Krayzelburg
and Ian Crocker.
"He's having a wonderful time," Debbie Phelps said yesterday.
"He's loving every moment."
Phelps was not available to comment yesterday, but at a tour stop in
Atlanta last week he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "I'm
so pumped to go home to see my family and friends and relax."
It's hard to imagine he'll have much down time. Phelps' day begins
at the Loyola College Fitness and Aquatics Center, where he'll take
questions from 500 Riverview Elementary School students and then participate
in a relay race with nine of them. The event is closed to the public.
Phelps has had a long association with the Lansdowne school, appearing
last spring to pump up the kids before their state testing began and
again in June for a parade.
"To watch him stand in the hallway giving high-fives to kids,
that's what it's all about - giving back to the next generation of children,"
Debbie Phelps said. "He really connects with the kids."
At some point today, Phelps may stop by Pete's Grille, the lunch counter
in Waverly where he would scarf down 3,000-calorie breakfasts when he
was preparing for the Olympics. Pete's co-owner Lou Sharkey, who's been
in touch with Phelps, said yesterday, "He just can't wait to get
home."
It is certain, however, that Phelps will be stopping by one of his
paying sponsors - AT&T Wireless. He'll be signing autographs at
its store in Towson Commons from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. The public is welcome.
After that, Phelps will head to the University of Maryland, College
Park for the 7 p.m. "Swim with the Stars" event at the natatorium
at the Campus Recreation Center. Tickets, which cost $30, will go on
sale at 5 p.m. at the center.
The tour has sold out shows in Atlanta and New York, forcing second
shows to be added, and will include races, swimming demonstrations and
discussions on swimmers' styles and strokes. And, as at Loyola, some
spectators will swim on teams with the Olympians.
Sometime after the end of that event at 9 p.m., it is assumed Phelps
will sleep in his own bed in Rodgers Forge for the first time in weeks
before waking again for more training and a parade and festival in Towson.
The parade will start at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow at Towson High School and
the festival at noon at Courthouse Plaza.
On Sunday, he's off to Chicago for the next stop on the tour, where,
maybe, he'll find some time to relax. But don't bet on it.
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