Michael Phelps Day Job: Louis Vuitton Ad Hints At New Career Path

Culture

American swimmer Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, has found at least two potential new jobs – now that he has decided to hang the Speedo after conquering a record 22 medals between the Beijing 2008 and the London 2012 Olympic Games (leaving Rio 2016 out of the picture).

In a new Louis Vuitton ad, Phelps appears sitting in a bathtub wearing black Speedos and goggles. The shot, taken by celebrity portrait photographer Annie Leibovitz, is part of the major fashion endorsement the legendary swimmer signed with the famous French fashion house – in a campaign titled “Core Values,” that follows in the footsteps of actors Sean Connery and Catherine Deneuve. In additional ads, Phelps appears with former Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina (77) also an Olympic champion who won 18 medals in her impressive career.

Phelps also announced he would be teaming up with golf pro Hank Haney, the former swing coach for Tiger Woods, for a new gig at the Golf Channel – The Haney Project – where the golf legend will teach the swimmer how to play like a champion while touring the world’s best golf courses.  

”I have traveled the world through swimming, but really haven’t had an opportunity to experience the world through my travels,” Phelps told the Associated Press. ”As I enter this next chapter of my life, I think I will be able to shift my competitiveness to anything I put my mind to and golf is one of the things I want to focus on. If I have a goal of dropping a certain amount of shots, or working on my short game or putting, those things are going to keep me motivated and fire me up and keep me excited," Phelps concluded.