The photo you see above is the official head shot Michael Phelps took for his London Olympics badge. The photo received plenty of attention on the Internet the past few days for obvious reasons — Phelps looks all whacked out and the picture looks more like a mug shot than an Olympics head shot.
Well Phelps explained why he appeared so disheveled in the picture.
“That’s a hot picture,” Phelps said, laughing, according to USA Today. “Actually, when I saw this, I didn’t think they were going to let me into the village.”
According to USA Today, Phelps says it was taken after an afternoon nap while he was in Colorado for training, “so that’s why the hair is all over the place. I look a little out of it.”
Alright Phelps, we give you a break. But you have to know better, buddy; anything you do will be scrutinized, and that includes taking oddball photos. You should be taking everything as seriously as you do a trip to the Oprah Winfrey Show.
