Phelps stays busy after Olympics with string of appearances

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Michael Phelps and his eight gold medals are everywhere these days.

The swimmer celebrated his record-breaking haul from the Beijing Games with a parade Friday at Walt Disney World and is going to be one of the 150 Olympians on the season premiere of "The Oprah Winfrey Show."

Disney spokesman Gary Buchanan said Phelps rode through the Magic Kingdom with Mickey Mouse in a red convertible as part of the "America's Homecoming Parade" at the park. Phelps was also honored with Disney parades after the 2004 Games.

The 23-year-old has been busy since Beijing. He has announced he'll write a book about his road to Olympic history, plans to host the season premiere of "Saturday Night Live," and will be a presenter at the 2008 Video Music Awards in September.

On Thursday, Phelps was in New York City, filming a cameo for the HBO series "Entourage."

On Wednesday, he'll join 150 other U.S. Olympic team members -- including Nastia Liukin and Kobe Bryant -- in taping Winfrey's show at Chicago's Millennium Park.

Winfrey intends the show, which will air Sept. 8, as a "welcome home celebration" and a chance to showcase Chicago as the city bids for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Other athletes expected to attend include the beach volleyball gold medal team of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh, gold medal basketball players Carmelo Anthony, Lisa Leslie and Dwyane Wade, and silver medal swimmer Dara Torres.

All the attention Phelps is getting isn't sitting well with at least one competitor. Australian swimmer Eamon Sullivan said Phelps was helped to his historic accomplishment by rivals' mistakes.

"There was an element of luck," Sullivan said.

Sullivan expects to clash with Phelps in the 50 and 100 freestyle swims at next year's world championships and warned the American of stiffer competition ahead.

"He better bring his A-game because us sprint boys are a different league, and we are not going go easy on him."