Will Michael Phelps Sink or Swim Playing Poker?

by Bodog Poker | Dec 22 2008

Amid the media blitz that followed Michael Phelps winning his eighth Olympic gold medal, it was revealed that Phelps was a dedicated and somewhat ambitious poker player. One of his first comments to the press after winning got the poker world buzzing about him when the Baltimore Sun reported that among the things Phelps wanted to do, now that he had attained wealth and fame, is meet Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods as well as play in the World Series of Poker and, “Meet some of those poker guys.”

At the moment it just seemed a passing fancy; something nice to hear a world-famous athlete say about the game we love. But time has told a different story, that of a man, a true competitor, who is as passionate about the game of poker as we are.

In early September, not long after having won his record breaking eighth gold medal, Phelps was in Las Vegas. There he met up with poker legend Doyle Brunson along with poker pros Todd Brunson, Hoyt Corkins, Jennifer Harman and Marco Traniello.

Phelps was staying at the Palms Hotel and Casino so they all met and ate at the Nine Steakhouse there at the Palms. Phelps told Brunson that all he wanted to do in life, was to eat, swim and play poker. Surely these are not the words of a man with only a passing interest in the game.

But is Michael Phelps any good at poker?

The proof is in the pudding and the pudding is in the Caesars Poker Classic that ran last October. Phelps made the final table of a $1,570 buy-in event and banked $5,213. Not bad considering this was only the third live tournament he had ever played.

In an interview with Card Player Phelps says that he likes to play online poker, but mostly plays live cash games, although with his recent success at the Caesars Poker Classic he plans to get more into the tournament poker scene.

More recently Phelps went home for Thanksgiving. He has apparently taken on all the aspects of being a Las Vegas poker pro since he brought with him his girlfriend, twenty-six-year-old Caroline “Caz” Pal, a waitress at the Palms. Phelps allegedly met her the night that he partied with Doyle Brunson.

Phelps’ love of poker even spilled over during Thanksgiving holidays when he took a break from visiting his family in Maryland to hit the casinos in Atlantic City. The Casino City Times reported that he spent much of the Thanksgiving weekend playing 10-20, No Limit Holdem at the Borgata. While a dealer did report that Phelps lost several thousand dollars on the Thursday, Phelps was back at the tables Friday.

As far as Michael Phelps’ poker future looks, you can expect to see him at both the WSOP in Las Vegas as well as the WSOP Europe in London since, according to People Magazine, he has already pledged to attend both.

His presence at such high profile tournaments will obviously be a major boon for the world of poker. Between his outstanding athletic record and his love of the game, you can expect him to draw in a whole new level of attention to tournament poker.

If you want to compete against Michael Phelps, or any of the slew of other celebrities, athletes and famous poker pros, you can qualify online for the WSOP at the Bodog poker room.