Greetings all from the Geek Labs
America's first-ever eight-time Olympic medallist Michael Phelps and his gold medallist swimming teammates Lenny Krayzelburg and Ian Crocker made their first public appearances in the United States -- since winning at the Olympic games in Greece -- at the Walt Disney World Resort on Aug. 31.
"It feels great to be back on U.S. soil, and especially here at Disney," Crocker said. "You can't help but be happy here."
The resort appearances mark the beginning of a 12-city "Disney's Swim with the Stars" tour. At each stop, Phelps, Krayzelburg and Crocker -- accompanied by Mickey Mouse -- will meet and swim with schoolchildren and participate in motivational seminars, culminating in an appearance at the Disneyland Resort.
"The ultimate goal for this tour is for kids to interact with us and learn the sport of swimming," Krayzelburg said. "We want them to leave with such positive energy about the sport of swimming and, hopefully, these kids will get involved in the sport, and 15 or 20 years down the road, we'll see them swimming in the Olympics representing this country."
Phelps, one of the 2004 Olympics stars, said of the tour, "We hope to attract new faces to the sport. It's a sport that we've all fallen in love with and have been able to promote. Hopefully, we can pass it on to the younger generation."
The athletes led a special swimming clinic at Typhoon Lagoon and participated in a celebratory parade at the Magic Kingdom Park, followed by media interviews near Cinderella Castle, on Aug. 31.
Their 12-city tour begins in Atlanta on Sept. 3.
"The most important thing we want to do is inspire kids and tell them that they can reach their dreams if they just take all the opportunities that come their way," Crocker said. "We all started off at a young age just plugging away like everyone else, and took those opportunities to accomplish our dreams."
America's first-ever eight-time Olympic medallist Michael Phelps and his gold medallist swimming teammates Lenny Krayzelburg and Ian Crocker made their first public appearances in the United States -- since winning at the Olympic games in Greece -- at the Walt Disney World Resort on Aug. 31.
"It feels great to be back on U.S. soil, and especially here at Disney," Crocker said. "You can't help but be happy here."
The resort appearances mark the beginning of a 12-city "Disney's Swim with the Stars" tour. At each stop, Phelps, Krayzelburg and Crocker -- accompanied by Mickey Mouse -- will meet and swim with schoolchildren and participate in motivational seminars, culminating in an appearance at the Disneyland Resort.
"The ultimate goal for this tour is for kids to interact with us and learn the sport of swimming," Krayzelburg said. "We want them to leave with such positive energy about the sport of swimming and, hopefully, these kids will get involved in the sport, and 15 or 20 years down the road, we'll see them swimming in the Olympics representing this country."
Phelps, one of the 2004 Olympics stars, said of the tour, "We hope to attract new faces to the sport. It's a sport that we've all fallen in love with and have been able to promote. Hopefully, we can pass it on to the younger generation."
The athletes led a special swimming clinic at Typhoon Lagoon and participated in a celebratory parade at the Magic Kingdom Park, followed by media interviews near Cinderella Castle, on Aug. 31.
Their 12-city tour begins in Atlanta on Sept. 3.
"The most important thing we want to do is inspire kids and tell them that they can reach their dreams if they just take all the opportunities that come their way," Crocker said. "We all started off at a young age just plugging away like everyone else, and took those opportunities to accomplish our dreams."
