Michael Phelps is Louis Vuitton's new poster boy
The Olympic swimmer stars alongside Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina in the fashion house's new Core Values campaign
The Olympic swimmer stars alongside Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina in the fashion house's new Core Values campaign
After his heroics in the pool during the London 2012 Olympic Games, swimmer Michael Phelps has appeared in his first fashion campaign as the star of Louis Vuitton's new Core Values ads.
The US sporting superstar, who has a whopping 22 Olympic medals to his name, of which 18 are gold (impressive stuff), can be seen sitting on a sofa wearing a smart suit and tan loafers sharing a cup of tea and a giggle with 77-year-old former Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina, whose Olymipic record he surpassed to become the greatest Olympian of all time.
PICS: THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES
The campaign, which was shot by acclaimed photographer Annie Leibovitz and officially released by Louis Vuitton today, also features one of the luxury label's signature monogram bags beneath the swimmer's feet with the tagline, 'Two extraordinary journeys. Just one way to get there. Larisa Latynina and Michael Phelps. Gymnast and swimmer of legend.'
Between 1956 and 1964 Latynina won 14 individual Olympic medals and four as part of her gymnastics team. Her total of 18 medals was a record for 48 years until Phelps overtook her at the London games. Although he broke her total medal count, she still holds the record for individual event medals.
The two sporting icons follow in the footsteps of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, U2's Bono and Hollywood royalty Sean Connery and Angelina Jolie, who have all starred in Louis Vuitton's Core Values travel line campaigns.
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What do you think of the latest Louis Vuitton Core Values ads? Is Michael a good choice for this? Tell us your thoughts in the comments box below...