Phelps Bypasses Wheaties in Favor of Corn Flakes

Michael Phelps appears on Kellogg's Corn Flakes cereal box.

With eight gold medals from the summer Olympic Games wrapped around his neck, swimmer Michael Phelps has more than earned the right to choose which box of cereal he would like his image to appear on.

He picked Kellogg’s and its Corn Flakes and Frosted Flakes cereals, shunning Wheaties, whose popularity boomed during the 1930’s and became synonymous with the world of sports. In 1934, baseball legend Lou Gehrig was the first athlete to appear on a Wheaties’ box. A long list of superstars followed, including track and field star Bruce Jenner and basketball star Michael Jordan, who appeared on the box more times than any other athlete.

The boxes will feature images of the 23-year-old Phelps during what were some of his most memorable moments of the summer's Games. The boxes will be in stores next month.

"As an Official Sponsor of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team and a proud sponsor of Phelps, it is only fitting that Kellogg Company feature this world-class athlete on its iconic boxes of Kellogg's Corn Flakes and Kellogg's Frosted Flakes cereals," said Marta Cyhan, vice president, global promotions, Kellogg Co., in a statement. "Michael knows that winning is not just about the glory that comes with gold medals, but about good sportsmanship, working hard and being your best."

Michael will also be the face of the Earn Your Stripes program, designed to encourage kids to eat right, be more active and work hard to achieve all of their goals.