Phelps Impacts Swimming Coverage; UCI Appoints Comm Head

Phelps Impacts Swimming Coverage

USA Swimming says media credential requests for the Mesa, Arizona meet jumped significantly after the announcement that Michael Phelps will end his nearly-two-year layoff there.

Requests have more than quadrupled for the April 24-26 event, according to a USA Swimming spokesperson.

Though Phelps is also entered in two meets following the one in Mesa, USA Swimming declined to comment on the impact to those events, saying, "It would be premature to speculate on Charlotte or Santa Clara."

Phelps is a 22-time Olympic medalist. Some believe his return to competition could mark the beginning of an attempt to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. His last competitive race came at the London Games in 2012.

Phelps has competed in each Summer Games since qualifying for Sydney as a 15-year old.

UCI Appoints Head of Communications

The Union Cycliste Internationale has appointed Sebastien Gillot as head of communications.

Gillot joins the UCI from the International Boxing Association (AIBA) where he led the public relations and communications department.

The announcement of Gillot’s appointment follows the recent decision from the UCI to enlist assistance from deltatre in revamping the organization’s digital strategy.

Aside from his work with AIBA, Gillot brings seven years of experience as lead editor of the French channel for FIFA.com to his position at the UCI. Gillot also worked for the advertising agency Havas Sports & Entertainment before advising the Annecy 2018 Olympic bid.

UCI director general Martin Gibbs said Gillot’s "understanding of international sports federations and the Olympic Movement is perfectly in tune with our goal to restore the reputation of our federation and to get it back on track as a major player in global sport."

Gibbs added, "His appointment comes at an exciting time for UCI communications as we prepare for the launch of the new UCI website later this summer."

Gillot officially joins the UCI on May 5.

Written byNicole Bennett

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