OLYMPIC CHAMPION PHELPS AMONG THOSE COMPETING
IN TOYOTA GRAND PRIX SERIES AT THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

        COLUMBUS, Ohio – Michael Phelps of Baltimore, Md., one of the world’s most decorated swimmers, is among many Olympic and world champions who will compete in USA Swimming’s Toyota Grand Prix Series at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion on The Ohio State University campus in early April.

        Phelps, a 17-time world champion who won six gold medals and two bronze at the 2004 Summer Olympics and current world-record holder in the 200 freestyle, 200 butterfly, 200 individual medley and 400 individual medley, will compete along with 2008 U.S. Olympic hopefuls such as Brendan Hansen of Haverton, Pa., the world record holder in the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke.

        Phelps and Hoff are among the 700 competitors, including more than 20 current or former Olympic champions, who will take the pool in the Toyota Grand Prix at The Ohio State University from April 4-6. Preliminaries begin each day at 9 a.m. and event finals each day at 6 p.m.

        The 2007-2008 Toyota Grand Prix Series serves as an opportunity for athletes to race against top-notch competition and continue their preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The top medal-winner at the culmination of the eight-meet Toyota Grand Prix Series will be awarded $20,000, courtesy of Toyota and USA Swimming. Phelps is currently tied for the series lead.

        Others competing in Columbus include 2004 Olympian and 100 backstroke world-record holder Aaron Peirsol (Irvine, Calif.), 2004 Olympians Kaitlin Sandeno (Lake Forest, Calif.), Katie Hoff (Towson, Md.) and Neil Walker (Verona, Wis.), as well as Olympian Erik Vendt (North Easton, Mass.), and 2007 World Championships team members Eric Shanteau (Lilburn, Ga.), and Dan Madwed (Stamford, Conn.).

        The Toyota Grand Prix Series at The Ohio State University will be held in the wake of the NCAA Women’s Division I Swimming and Diving Championships, which were held at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion March 20-22.

        “This is an exciting beginning for Ohio State to host the Women’s NCAA Championships and the USA Swimming Grand Prix meets back to back and to bring many of the world’s fastest swimmers to campus and the Columbus community,” said Bill Wadley, Ohio State’s men’s swimming and diving coach. “The McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion has proven to be one of the fastest and best swimming venues in the world and we are thrilled to bring this level of swimming to our campus.”

        General admission tickets to the Toyota Grand Prix at The Ohio State University cost $45 for an all-sessions pass. Individual session passes are available for $12 for finals that begin daily at 6 p.m. and $8 for preliminaries that begin daily at 9 a.m. Heat sheets are included in the price of the tickets. Tickets can be purchased at www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com.

        For more information on the Toyota Grand Prix at The Ohio State University, visit www.usaswimming.org or www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com. For credentials, media should submit an online application at www.usaswimming.org by April 1.

About the Bill and Mae McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion
        Considered one of the finest competition pools and diving wells in the nation, the Bill and Mae McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion’s new technology provides a venue for some of the fastest times and best diving in the country. In fact, the July 2007 issue of Aquatics International magazine stated this about McCorkle: “a state-of-the-art competition pool loaded with the latest technology sets a university apart from the competition.”

        Dedicated October 14, 2005, the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion is the newest addition to Ohio State’s top-notch athletic facilities. The Pavilion consists of the Mike Peppe Natatorium and the Ron O’Brien Diving Well. Holding nearly 1.56 million gallons of water in the entire facility, the Pavilion is part of Ohio State’s Recreation and Physical Activity Center (RPAC). The McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion has already hosted numerous championship competitions and is scheduled to host more. Here’s the championship slate to date:
* 2008 Toyota Grand Prix at The Ohio State University (April 4-6)
* 2008 Collegiate Synchronized Swimming Nationals (March 26-30)
* 2008 Women’s NCAA Championships (March 20-22)
* 2008 NCAA Zone C Diving Championships (March 14-16)
* 2008 Women’s Big Ten Championships (Feb. 21-23)
* 2008 World Cup Selection Camp of Diving
* 2007 Men’s Big Ten Championships
* 2007 Synchronized Swimming Olympic Duet Trials
* 2007 World Selection Camp of Diving
* 2006 Women’s Big Ten Championships
* 2006 NCAA Zone C Diving Championships
* 2006 McCorkle Long Course Classic
* 2006 Peppe/Bruce Invitational
* 2006 International Diving Invitational
       The Greater Columbus Sports Commission was founded in June 2002 to attract professional, amateur, collegiate and youth sporting events to Columbus.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Brent LaLonde                
614-562-0940 (cell)
BLaLonde@ColumbusSports.org                        
www.ColumbusSports.org                        

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