Michael Phelps’ Olympic Headshot Shows Swimmer Dazed And Confused

Michael Phelps’ Olympic headshot (left) appears to show some dude who’s about to pop down to the 7-11 for late-night munchies, rather than a champion swimmer and multiple Olympic medalist. And we’re hoping those days are behind him, right?

In his official IOC shot, Phelps appears disheveled and dazed, with several days of beard growth and half-closed eyes topping off the just-got-out-of-bed look. Unconfirmed: he may also have smelled of body odor and Cheetos.

However, when he was snapped yesterday in London’s Aquatics Centre, the winner of eight Olympic gold medals in 2008 looked much sharper, with the same cropped hairdo he sported at the U.S. Olympic trials last month.

Michael Phelps’ official Olympic headshot belies the fact that the swimmer could make history at the Olympics – the 27-year-old is attempting to break the all-time record for most medals won in an Olympic career.

He’s set to swim in seven different events at the London games, and is expected to add to his career total of 16 Olympic medals — six gold and two bronze at Athens in 2004, and eight gold at Beijing in 2008. Phelps’ Olympic medal total is second only to the 18 Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina won over three Olympics, including nine gold. This is truly Phelps’ last chance as well – he has already confirmed that he will retire after the 2012 Olympics.

Will you be tuning in to watch Michael Phelps attempt to make Olympic history? And does anyone have a damn comb?

See also:Photographer Criticized For ‘Disgraceful’ US Olympic Portraits