Create Your Own Michael Phelps Halloween Costume

Michael Phelps became an inspiration of our nation this summer when he won a record eight gold medals at the Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Since coming home to the States, Michael Phelps has made the rounds at some of the big talk shows, such as the Tonight Show and Oprah, and Michael Phelps even hosted Saturday Night Live on their season premier September 13.

With Halloween right around the corner, you can easily create your own Michael Phelps Halloween costume, so you can experience the pride of victory that Michael Phelps brought to our country. Some basic items you will need for your Michael Phelps Halloween costume are: swim goggles, rubber swim cap, towel, a long RZR Racer Speedo (or spandex pants and tank top substitute), a giant plate of food - real or fake - (including French toast, pancakes, bacon, omelets, grits, and/or any other high-calorie food you can come up with), temporary (or permanent) Olympic ring tattoo, temporary (or permanent) University of Michigan "M" tattoo, and, finally, a tall, rockin' hard body wouldn't hurt either.

Once you know some of the things you need, where do you get them? The swim items can be found at www.swimoutlet.com. Swimoutlet.com carries the goggles you will need, and even carries a stars and stripes decorated swim cap for only $10.95. Though Michael Phelps didn't wear a stars and stripes decorated swim cap in the Summer Olympics, this touch will bring a bit of recognition to the costume.

If you're going for authenticity in your Michael Phelps Olympic Halloween costume, you'll need to purchase an authentic RZR Racer Speedo. At www.speedousa.com, you can purchase the RZR Racer Speedo for $550. One detail on the speedousa.com website could create a problem in ordering the RZR Racer, however. The site says that the RZR Racer can be pre-ordered, but will be available sometime in late October. It's possible if you call and speak to a representative, you may be able to pin down a more specific date and see if they can guarantee delivery before Halloween. If this doesn't work out, you may have to opt for a regular spandex workout outfit. Spandex pants and tank tops can be found at any sports clothing stores in your area or online.

Michael Phelps' diet has been widely publicized and scrutinized by the media, doctors, and dietitians around the country since the Summer Olympics began. Michael Phelps eats around 12,000 calories a day, which is almost ten times what is healthy for many of us during a single day. Carrying around a tray of food will be fun and will lend a humorous aspect to your Michael Phelps Halloween costume. If you don't want to prepare and carry around real food all evening, www.barnardltd.com carries a fabulous line of artificial food that looks real enough to eat! They carry pancakes, French toast, muffins, fruit, cakes, and other fun food items.

A final touch to your Michael Phelps Halloween costume would be to add temporary or permanent tattoos on your hips. On your right hip, you will need to place the Olympic rings and on the left, an "M" design for the University of Michigan, where Michael Phelps attended college. If you're not brave enough (or dedicated enough) to get the real thing, you can find the stick-on kind very cheap online. The Olympic ring tattoo can be found for $1.95 (after $1 savings) at www.tattoofun.com. Just search "Olympic rings" and the tattoo will come up. The U of M tattoo can be purchased in a set of several spirit tattoos from www.hometeams.com. Again, search for "Michigan" and you'll get a nice little page of Wolverine tattoos for only $3.99.

If you really want your Michael Phelps Halloween costume to appear authentic, you should be around 6'5", 200 lbs, and have nearly no body fat whatsoever. A goofy grin, humble attitude, and your mom standing to the side cheering you on doesn't hurt either. However, if you don't have enough time to grow six inches or work out for six or eight hours a day, you'll just have to work with what you've got. You can always tell everyone that your costume is "Michael Phelps in the off-season" if you're standing there in tight spandex with your beer gut hanging out. Don't forget to shave and roll those spandex down at the waist so we can glimpse the tops of those cute tattoos!