Olympic stars struggle to score showbiz gold

After the 2004 Athens Olympics, Disney signed Phelps -- then coming off a performance that earned six gold medals -- to a multicity swimming tour. He also became a celebrity spokesman for Hong Kong electronics maker Matsunichi, inking a four-year deal worth about $4 million (2 million pounds).

The dreams are bigger this year for Phelps and Peter Carlisle, his representative at sports agency Octagon, which handles many Olympic athletes. (Phelps has no Hollywood agent, though it’s possible that a sports-minded agency will soon be making overtures.) Phelps’ habit of breaking world records and the attention on the Games make him an attractive candidate; Visa already has created new spots around his Olympic performance, and he has deals in place with PowerBar and Speedo.

TOUGH SELL

But the fact that the Summer Olympics take place every four years has proved a huge obstacle. And, apart from frequency issues, the Games may run into a more fundamental problem with consumers. "It’s always been an impediment to these folks going on (to Hollywood stints or marketing deals) because the glory is (supposed to be) enough," marketing consultant Robert Passikoff said. "Isn’t that the Olympic tradition?"

Even for Olympians, gold medals don’t always translate directly into marketing dollars. Two of the most marketable U.S. Olympic athletes in modern times, gymnast Mary Lou Retton and decathlete Bruce Jenner, won a comparatively small number of golds -- just two and one, respectively. By contrast, a nine-time gold medallist, swimmer Mark Spitz, and a five-time champion, speed skater Bonnie Blair, have had far fewer endorsements.

In Beijing, Phelps is proving that he has not only unparalleled swimming chops but broad commercial appeal.

When he lined up to compete for his fourth gold, in the 200-meter butterfly, just after 10 p.m. ET on Tuesday night, NBC saw ratings spike 23 percent to 39.1 million viewers for the half-hour. As one observer put it, if every one of those extra 8 million who tuned in went to see a movie he was in, Phelps would have a box-office hit.

But like Madison Avenue, the Hollywood reality is hardly that simple.

ATHLETES AS MOVIE STARS

In a pre-endorsement age, Hollywood would scour the Olympics for athletes and slot them into movies, as they did with Norwegian figure skater Sonja Henie and U.S. swimmers Buster Crabbe and Johnny Weissmuller.

"Once upon a time studios would find these beautiful creatures and put them in movies," Hollywood publicity guru Tony Angellotti said. "And if someone isn’t that facile with the English language, like Weissmuller, well, you just make him Tarzan."

In the modern age, the path is far more chequered for athletes who want to cross over. Retton has done a host of walk-on parts as herself in movies and shows such as "The Naked Gun" and "Baywatch," but attempts at larger roles have been tricky -- just ask anyone who saw Jenner in "Can’t Stop the Music" or the near-Olympian Kurt Thomas in "Gymkata."

But Hollywood still could be key if Phelps is to overcome the fragile celebrity of most Olympians. Branding experts say that placing him in reality shows -- either his own, like skateboarder Ryan Sheckler on MTV, or in venues like "Dancing With the Stars" -- is essential. "The key is to create content that keeps him out there," Dorfman said.

But even that might not be enough to drive ratings or boost endorsements.

"The challenge for Olympic athletes has always been to be able, after the post-game hype, to translate that into big marketing and endorsement deal dollars," Starcom’s Tom Weeks said.

And Phelps could fade even within the Olympics, which still has another week left after the athlete kicks through his last breaststroke Saturday. "There’s no question that Michael is an important driver of interest in the Olympics," NBC research chief Alan Wurtzel said. "But the Olympics turn out to be more than Michael Phelps."

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter