No surprise here: Sports Illustrated has chosen American swimmer Michael Phelps as its Sportsman of the Year. Phelps won eight gold medals and set seven world records at this year’s summer Olympics in Beijing. “Phelps's calorie intake may seem superhuman, and his 6' 4", 185-pound body may recall Greek statuary,” Sports Illustrated writes, “but fans are also drawn to him by a goofy grin and oversized ears that led to his being called Spock on the school bus.” Phelps has ushered in a golden age for swimming: For the first time ever, NBC will offer live coverage of the swimming world championships next summer and will broadcast the U.S. nationals for the next three years.
Read it at Sports Illustrated
