Is Michael Phelps a jerk?!?


Phelps is a sore winner - Watch more free videos

To many, Michael Phelps embodies what it means to be a true Olympian and American hero, but could there be a dark side to our national swimming champion?

Phelps, who took home 8 gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, beating the previous most won gold medals in a single Olympics record, has brought glory to his country and is being celebrated as a national hero.

However, in this newly uncovered footage he is clearly behaving in an unsportsmanlike manner. Seen here splashing, flipping the bird, choking and even nipple twisting his disappointed competition, some are outraged that an American athlete would behave in such an unseemly manner.

Is this the image of the United States that Americans wish to portray to the world. Especially in these politically sensitive times, such an act of aggression could, in fact, have implications in foreign relations.

What do you think?