Sports

Phelps Fever Reaches The White House

WASHINGTON (WJZ) ― Phelps fever reached the White House as the Baltimore County native and a number of other Olympic champions visited the president.

Kai Jackson has more on the event.

The world's number one swimmer was honored by America's first family.  Michael Phelps and many other athletes spent the day with the commander-in-chief. 

For Phelps, it's just one more of many dreams come true.

"To be here is an amazing experience," he said. 

He related that his mom texted him that morning, asking him to say hello to President Bush for her.  When he did, the president said that Debbie Phelps reminded him of his own mother, former First Lady Barbara Bush.

There was a sea of red, white and blue on the south lawn of the White House Tuesday as President and Mrs. Bush honored America's athletes from the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing.

Olympic gold medal swimmer Michael Phelps brought honor and excitement to the Olympics, the sport of swimming, America and Maryland.

Phelps fever reached an all-time high this past weekend when the state honored him with an Olympic-sized homecoming at Fort McHenry in Baltimore.

President Bush told the crowd Tuesday he was proud to welcome the greatest Olympic team, and that attending the Beijing Olympics was one of the greatest experiences of his presidency.

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