Retired Gold Medal-winning U.S. swimmer MICHAEL PHELPS and other Olympic athletes from Maryland “were celebrated in true local style Monday afternoon by elected officials and an Inner Harbor crowd,” according to Jean Marbella of the Baltimore SUN. Baltimore Mayor STEPHANIE RAWLINGS-BLAKE gave the athletes “keys to the city,” and the event “drew several hundred people to the Inner Harbor amphitheater.” Phelps later served as “honorary Ravens captain” for the team’s “Monday Night Football” game against the Bengals. He “ran through the tunnel onto the field with the rest of the team, wearing a Ravens jersey emblazoned with his name and the number 12, and participated in the coin toss.” Also honored were rower DAVID BANKS, windsurfer FARRAH HALL, cyclist BOBBY LEA, swimmer KATIE LEDECKY, field hockey player KATIE O’DONNELL, kayaker SCOTT PARSONS, and modern pentathlete SUZANNE STETTINIUS. It was a “full day for Phelps, who also was feted at the Under Armour headquarters.” Phelps visited UA "for a rally with about 600 employees in a parking lot at Tide Point.” He answered questions posed by company President, Chair & CEO KEVIN PLANK, and then “put two sneaker-sheathed feet -- the latest Under Armour model, of course -- down in a still-wet concrete block.” Plank said that Phelps will be the “first athlete whose shoe prints adorn a walkway” (Baltimore SUN, 9/11). In N.Y., Griffith, Niemietz, Lang & Freeman note Phelps will “get a lavish homecoming party Wednesday -- and he’s not even from New York.” Details magazine reportedly will be “hosting a welcome back bash” for Phelps on the “rooftop of Hotel Americano at 8 p.m.” Confirmed guests include Jets QB MARK SANCHEZ and NHL Rangers G HENRIK LUNDQVIST (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/11).
WELCOME TO THE TEAM: TSE Consulting has hired USA Swimming coach BOB BOWMAN, Phelps' longtime coach, as a Sports Performance Division Consultant (TSE Consulting). Bowman said that although his clients “likely will include sports organizations of other countries that compete against American teams, elevating the level of play around the world helps everyone.” He said that his consulting work will be done on a “project by project basis." He added that his new post “won't change his current role as CEO of North Baltimore Aquatic Club” (Baltimore SUN, 9/11).
OH JEAH! Gold Medal-winning U.S. swimmer RYAN LOCHTE and sponsor Gillette donated $25,000 to Daytona Beach Speed Swimming (P&G). Meanwhile, Lochte was seen with Miss USA OLIVIA CULPO at the Sherri Hill fashion show at Trump Tower (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/11).
