Michael Phelps Could Lose Medals? Swimmer's Agent Says Louis Vuitton Ads Won't Cost Him His Medals
Michael Phelps is facing questions about whether he'll lose his medals for a Louis Vuitton photo shoot that could have violated Olympic rules, but his longtime agent says Phelps' gold will be safe.
Shots from the Louis Vuitton campaign, which feature Phelps in a bathtub and wearing a suave suit on a couch, were leaked online Aug. 13, three days before their intended release. Some say that violates Olympic Rule 40, which prohibits athletes from appearing in non-Olympic sponsorships during a month-long period surrounding the games.
But Phelps' longtime agent Peter Carlisle said the photos were leaked without Phelps' permission, and therefore the swimmer is in the clear.
"He didn't violate Rule 40, it's as simple as that," Carlisle said. "All that matters is whether the athlete permitted that use. That's all he can control. In this case, Michael did not authorize that use. The images hadn't even been reviewed, much less approved. It's as simple as that. An athlete can't control unauthorized uses any more than you can guarantee someone isn't going to break into your house."
In one of the Louis Vuitton ads, shot by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz, Phelps appears next to Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina, 77, who before the 2012 Games was the most decorated Olympian in history with 18 medals. Phelps has since surpassed that total with a record-shattering 22 medals to his name, 18 of which are gold.
Carlisle said Phelp's appearance in the Louis Vuitton ads underscore his prominence as an international superstar.
"In many ways, this is one of the greatest illustrations of how Michael has transcended swimming, and arguably even sports," Carlisle said. "Only global icons are even included in that campaign. If you go through the list of celebrities who've been part of it, it's pretty remarkable."
