Michael Phelps joined Arizona State's "Curtain of Distraction" Thursday night at the game against Oregon State, diverting the basketball players' attention at the free-throw line by wearing a Speedo and what appeared to be his collection of Olympic gold medals around his neck.
While the effort by fans to distract free-throw shooters of the opposite team at basketball games is nothing new, having one of world's most celebrated Olympic champions do it with a bunch of medals bouncing around his neck is something likely no other school can brag about.
"The curtain was pulled back, and Phelps appeared, wearing just his gold medals and a gold Speedo,"
the Arizona Republic wrote of the Olympic swimming gold medalist. "He stood alongside two students dressed as Chippendales. There have been some epic stunts in the curtain over the years. We've seen a recreation of the 'Jael Mary,' scary clowns and horses making out — to name a few."
"But nothing has topped what we saw on Thursday night, and Oregon State's Stephen Thompson Jr. learned the hard way what it's like to go up against an Olympic superstar," the news site continued.
Phelps, who is helping coach the Arizona State swim team and working out there with his trainer Bob Bowman, got into the spirit of the basketball team's game at the Wells Fargo Arena by joining the student section, known as the
942 Crew, according to USA Today.
Arizona State won the game 86-68 and the Oregon State Beavers went 9 for 20 from the free-throw line, below 50 percent, the newspaper noted. Phelps said on Twitter that he was pleased with the crew's performance.
Social media users loved Phelps' gimmick with the student section.
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