BEIJING, China, January 6. MICHAEL Phelps continued his victory lap by scoring another record sponsorship deal. According to the Daily News, Phelps picked up a $1 million deal from Mazda in China, which is "the largest single sponsorship for a Western celebrity in Chinese history."
"The people of China have been very supportive of me and my efforts to help promote swimming," Phelps said. "I am excited to begin 2009 with my first return trip to Beijing since the Games."
Phelps has been pulling in endorsement deals across the board since becoming the most decorate Olympian ever in Beijing and breaking Mark Spitz' record of seven gold medals with a haul of eight at the Games. According to the article, Phelps is now "worth as much as $50 million."
Full text of Daily News article.