Phelps to go from pool to page with book deal
Last Updated: Friday, August 22, 2008 | 11:15 AM ET
CBC News
U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps, who won eight gold medals in Beijing, will tell his story in an upcoming book tentatively called Built to Succeed. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) American swimmer and Olympic star Michael Phelps will write a book telling the story behind his record-setting run at the Beijing Olympics, a U.S. publisher announced on Friday.
Free Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, said that the upcoming title — to be called Built to Succeed — is scheduled for release in December, in time for the holiday season.
In addition to giving the 23-year-old swimmer the opportunity to discuss his amazing eight-gold medal performance in Beijing, the book will explore his philosophies on training and competitions as well as his childhood.
Phelps grew up in a single-parent family and struggles with attention deficit disorder, Free Press said.
Phelps, who hails from Baltimore, became the winningest Olympian in history in Beijing, adding eight gold medals to the six he won in Athens in 2004.
His performance in Beijing bested the seven gold medals haul U.S. swimmer Mark Spitz took at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Nicknamed the Baltimore Bullet, Phelps has also scored endorsement deals with a raft of major firms, including Speedo, Visa, Omega, Hilton, AT&T, PureSport and Kellogg Co.
With files from the Associated Press
