Universal Sports Goes Back in the Pool With Michael Phelps

He’s no longer taking hits from the bong as far as we know, but we do know that he’s back in the pool. Universal Sports will bring you coverage of the Swimming National Championships starting tonight and going through tomorrow. Michael Phelps will be part of the coverage. To show how big this is, Universal is tapping parent company NBC’s Olympic announcing team of Dan Hicks and Rowdy Gaines. Alex Flanagan will be the poolside reporter. Here’s the press release from Universal Sports.

Michael Phelps highlights the field as Universal Sports presents LIVE Coverage of the 2010 USA Swimming National Championships

NBC Sports wraps up Nationals coverage with highlight shows

Universal Sports will also air live coverage of the Pan Pacific Championships

August 2, 2010:  Universal Sports provides fans with an opportunity to see the most decorated Olympian in U.S. history, Michael Phelps, LIVE from the 2010 National Championships in Irvine, California.  Coverage will begin on Tuesday, August 3, at 9 p.m. ET and continue on Wednesday, August 4, at 9 p.m. ET. NBC Sports will air two highlight shows featuring the top performances of the event on August 7, at 4 p.m. ET and August 8, at 4:30 p.m. ET. Universal Sports will also air LIVE coverage of the Pan Pacific Championships on Wednesday, August 18, at 9 p.m. ET.  

The 2010 National Championship features more than 1,200 swimmers, as they compete to qualify for the 2010 Pan Pacific Championships Team and the 2011 FINA World Championships. Along with Phelps, highlighting the field are Natalie Coughlin, Rebecca Soni, Ryan Lochte and Cullen Jones. NBC’s Olympic Swimming analyst team of Dan Hicks and Rowdy Gaines will be broadcasting the event with Alex Flanagan on the deck providing coverage throughout the event. 

The Pan Pacific Championships, which takes place once every four years, will feature a strong field of competitors from the U.S., Japan, Australia, Canada and more than 20 other countries. Gaines and Flanagan will again serve as the analyst and on-deck reporter, respectively, and Ted Robinson will be the play-by-play announcer for the event.

Universal Sports’ August lineup will include LIVE coverage of the Visa Gymnastic Championships beginning August 12, cycling coverage of the Vuelta a Espana starting August 28, and a host of Diamond League track and field events throughout the month.

More later.