Posts Tagged ‘olympics’

Nastia Takes on Gossip Girl!

October 15th, 2008

What could possibly make winning five gold medals even sweeter? Forget big name endorsements and millions of fans, for 18-year-old gymnast Nastia Liukin, it’s the chance to appear on super popular CW show Gossip Girl.

 

"I was in Los Angeles having dinner with a bunch of my friends and the producers of Gossip Girl were sitting at the table next to me," Nastia told reporters before being named Sportswoman of the Year by the Women’s Sports Foundation on Tuesday.

 

"So they sent over a note saying ‘Congratulations. Keep watching Gossip Girl.’ Then the next day they contacted my management and the next thing I know I have a guest role on Gossip Girl."  

 

The young athlete says she aspires to do some modeling and acting, making her guest role, which she’s filming when she’s back in NYC on Oct. 21, the perfect stepping stone to widen her experiences.

 

Don’t expect to see her doing any backflips or balance beam tricks, Nastia says she won’t be playing herself.

 

"I was going to play myself and then they thought it would be cool to give me a character," she said. "A bunch of my friends always watch, so to actually be on it, it’s really cool."

Michael Phelps’ New Girlfriend!

October 7th, 2008 / Author: OK! Staff

Gold medalist Michael Phelps showed off a new trophy in his hometown of Baltimore the weekend of Oct. 2 — his girlfriend.

And it sounds like the 14-time gold medalist is diving into this relationship head first!

He even took the stunning brunette, who OK! can reveal is 2007 Miss California runner-up Nicole Johnson, to meet his mom, Debbie.

"Nicole’s been around for a while," says a pal of Michael.

Nicole accompanied Michael, 23, to his Oct. 4 homecoming parade before joining the swimming champ and 20 family members and friends at Morton’s The Steakhouse, where he feasted on an Olympic-sized 14-ounce filet, creamed spinach, iceberg salad, green beans, mashed potatoes and a dessert trio.

Michael asked the server for change, an insider tells OK!, explaining that "it was for his girlfriend to pay the valet."

Nastia Liukin: Life After Beijing

September 12th, 2008

Olympic gymnast Nastia Liukin returned from the Beijing Olympics with several medals to her name. But nothing could have prepared her for the whirlwind of attention that greeted her homecoming.

Based on her success in China, Nastia will be featured on an upcoming Wheaties Box, has a cameo on Gossip Girl and is the new face of Vanilla Star Jeans. So how does she feel about her newfound fame?

"It has all been more than a dream come true," Nastia says. "I would never have thought that I would be able to do the things I’m doing.  I’ve been travelling so much. Out of the three weeks that I’ve been back I’ve probably been home for only about three days. But I’m definitely having the time of my life!"

 
Of all her new ventures, Nastia is probably most excited about her appearance on Gossip Girl – primarily because she’s a huge fan of the show.

"I’ve always liked that show and I read all of the books before it became a show," she says. "Right after the Olympics I went to L.A. and I had dinner with a bunch of my friends and there happened to be the producers of Gossip Girl! They passed over a note and they were like,’Congratulations!’ The next day they called my agent and wanted to meet with us and said they would love for me to guest star."

 

Sounds like a dream come true! But it doesn’t stop there. Nastia did stints on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O’brien and The View and will appear on the Oprah Winfrey Show. As the face of Vanilla Star, Nastia says she’s now able to work on a signature line – something she says has been really fun.

"It’s so much fun to be part of it and I have a pretty big say in what I like and what I want it to be," she says.

 

Nastia continues, "It is really weird to know that I started gymnastics at such a young age because I loved it and I had fun doing it.  I never thought that it would bring me to where I am today."


Nastia Liukin New Face of Vanilla Star

August 28th, 2008

The Olympics may be over, but the endorsements are just beginning!

On Thursday, Vanilla Star announced its plan to unveil its Smart Girls Rock ad campaign featuring Olympic gold medal gymnast Nastia Liukin.

The campaign, which drops on Friday at Parsons School of Design in NYC, will be featured in national magazines, on buses, kiosks and billboards in New York and L.A.

"We love that Nastia is the perfect fit for Vanilla Star like our jeans are for her," says Sandeep Behl, Vanilla Star’s CEO. "The grace and class she continues to demonstrate in her performances and in her attitude are a great representation of the values that Vanilla Star stands for."

The denim jean company prides itself on its "anti-jean" philosophy, which strives to avoid exploiting young teens’ bodies in its ads.

"We feel that Nastia is special, not only for her amazing skills but as a role model and inspiration to young generations. She’s truly living the dream," said Vanilla Star president Mark Levy.


Nastia left the Beijing olympics with five medals, including one gold, three silvers and one bronze. She says she hopes to inspire others to acheive their goals.

 

"I am really excited to be part of Vanilla Star’s Smart Girls Rock ad campaign," Nastia says. "I know what it is like to have a dream in your mind and work as hard as you can to achieve it. I’m just happy I can encourage others to do the same."

Bryan Clay: Phelps Isn’t the Best Athlete in the World

August 28th, 2008

Michael Phelps captured eight gold medals in the Beijing Olympics, breaking Mark Spitz’s record of seven in a single Summer Games. However, Bryan Clay claimed the gold medal in the grueling ten-event decathlon, earning him the title of "world’s best athlete" that goes along with winning that event.

So who should wear the crown of Best Athlete in the World? Bryan spoke with OK! at the WIN High Performance Sport Detergent luncheon, where he was being recognized.

"When you’re talking about the best athlete in the world, I think it needs to be somebody that’s well rounded, that can do everything well," Bryan explains to OK!. "I think that’s me at this point."

As for Michael’s talent, Bryan has no doubt that each gold medal he’s earned have been deserved.

 

"He’s obviously an amazing athlete," Bryan says. "I think he’s the best swimmer probably to ever grace the planet when it comes down to swimming. I just don’t think you can call him the world’s greatest athlete."

 

The rivalry doesn’t stop there: While Michael has nabbed a deal plastering his image on boxes of Frosted Flakes, Bryan is still hoping to appear on the traditional cereal box of champions, Wheaties.

 

Although Bryan says Michael probably wouldn’t even recognize him if they saw each other on the street, he has no hard feelings.

 

"I know who he is but we’d probably just do our own separate thing," he says. "And that’s not because we don’t like each other. It’s just our worlds never really crossed."

 

Now that’s a match-up we’d like to see!

By Laura Lane

Michael Phelps to Host SNL Season Opener

August 27th, 2008 / Author: OK! Staff

In the bold tradition of attempting to turn famous athletes into sketch comedy stars, OK! has learned that Michael Phelps, who earned a record-breaking eight gold medals at the recently concluded Summer Olympics in Beijing, will be playing host on the season premiere of Saturday Night Live.

According to a show insider, the 23-year-old swimmer will attempt to spin his gold into laughs in front of a live audience during the Sept. 13 season premiere of the long-running NBC comedy show.

Slated to appear as the musical guest on the opening episode of SNL’s 34th season is rapper Lil Wayne. However, that spot may be up in the air after Wayne missed an Arizona court date Tuesday morning to answer for drug-related charges.

OK! Interview: Maria Sharapova

August 22nd, 2008 / Author: OK! Staff

While a shoulder injury prompted tennis beauty Maria Sharapova to skip this year’s Olympics in Beijing, she’s keeping busy and "absolutely" hopes to compete in the 2012 games

 

"It’s disappointing, of course, but I’m not sitting at home watching TV with popcorn in my hand and munching on things," she tells OK! at the launch of Canon PowerShot Diamond Collection Wednesday in N.Y.C. "I’m doing things that are productive and I’ve been able to do things that  I never have the chance sometimes to do, which has made the experience much more fun." 

 

The young athlete has many more years to compete – she’s only 21 – but even when it’s time to hang up her racquet, she won’t be sitting still. Fifteen years from now, Maria says she wants to be "with a family, relaxed and retired but meanwhile still running around, doing things."

 

Off the court Maria is known for her fresh look and sleek style. Her best beauty tip? "Less is much, much more," she advises.

 

While she won’t say whether or not the low maintenance approach has helped her net that lucky someone, she does confess that the right guy doesn’t necessarily have to have a killer backhand.

 

"Just like any other woman, I want them to be their normal self, I want them to have their own life and to respect the business that I’m in," she says.

 

Of course, a little practice on the court couldn’t hurt your chances.

By Valerie Nome

Michael Phelps: “I’m Not Dating Amanda Beard.”

August 19th, 2008 / Author: OK! Staff

First, the good news: Michael Phelps is not dating Amanda Beard. The bad news: the Olympic powerhouse is staying mum when it comes to question of his love life.

 

The eight-time gold winner in the Beijing Olympics opened up to Extra’s Dayna Devon just enough to dispel the rumors that he’s involved with fellow Olympian Amanda Beard.

 

"No, I’m not dating Amanda Beard. I’ll say that. I think she has a boyfriend," he says in the interview, airing tonight. But as to whether he’s still on the market, Michael responds, "Part of my life is kept to myself. I’m able to relax and be with my friends. Those pretty much are the only people who really know the answer to that question."

 

So who would Michael pick to play his love interest in a movie based on his life?

 

"Cameron Diaz seems pretty cool. She seems like she has a cool personality????," he tells Dayna.

 

Catch the full interview on tonight’s Extra, and get the latest on Michael and more celebrities at extratv.com.

Michael Phelps’ Gold Medal Playlist

August 18th, 2008 / Author: OK! Staff

With a record breaking 8 Olympic gold medals to his name, Michael Phelps has perhaps done for the sport of swimming what Tom Cruise did for pilots following the success of Top Gun!

Images of 23-year-old Phelps zoning out before each race with his iPod, headphones plugged into his ears, are now part of Olympic history. And the world would like to know–what exactly was he listening to?

"I’m a huge fan of rap music, " the swimming champ told OK!. "Before a race, I usually listened to Biggie, Jay-Z, DMX or 50 Cent."

Michael told the Today Show on August 12, "What did I have on today? I think I had Lil Wayne’s "I’m Me". I think I had that on there."

Phelps also revealed he’s been listening to the rap anthem "Go Getta" by Young Jeezy.

For more on Michael, go to NBColympics.com.

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