Sep 3, 2008 10:06 pm US/Central
Michael Phelps In Chicago To Promote 2016 Bid
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
The world's greatest swimmer is on Chicago's team in bidding for the 2016 Olympics. Michael Phelps is the toast of the town Wednesday night. But he took time out to chat with CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine on a busy day of appearances.
The 38 young swimmers who came to this Chicago Park District Pool were told there would be a surprise Olympian here. But Michael Phelps?
In only his second time in the water since the Olympics, he gave some pointers, showed the form which won eight gold medals, and even took time to help a struggling beginner.
"He taught me to keep my hips up and keep on stroking," said 12-year-old Shaquille Terrell.
"I just wanted to given him a few pointers and hopefully they worked," Phelps said. "And you know the one lap he did, the last lap, you could already tell the difference."
Earlier in the day, Phelps was the headliner among 175 Olympians at a special Millennium Park broadcast of Oprah.
"This city, they are a city of sports fans, it's always so fun to come here and I've gotten a million high-fives every day," said women's beach volleyball gold medalist Kerri Walsh.
That spirit was on display not only here but in the 107 countries the show will reach. Phelps also did a webcast on the 2016 Web site, and sat down with CBS 2 to promise this visit wouldn't be his last.
When asked if he could see himself spending a significant amount of time working on this bid, Phelps said, "I would love to. I have a bunch of friends who went to Michigan, who now live and work in the city and every time I come to visit, it's better and better each time."
And at a reception Wednesday night, he wowed the crowd, prompting one gold medal winner to declare Phelps and Chicago a great fit.
"There he is on the stage, as we just looked, tall, proud - but not the feeling of superiority, but the feeling of humbleness," said Adolph Kiefer a 1936 Olympian. "He exemplifies the city of Chicago and our bid for the 2016 Games."
The fact that Phelps came to Chicago at a time when he is one of the hottest, most sought after celebrities in the world, says something about his commitment to the bid.
Chicago 2016 did cover his travel and some other expenses, but it was nowhere near the hundreds of thousands of dollars he could have made from sponsors waiting in line for him to come to them.
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