Michael Phelps Back in the NBC Sports Spotlight This Sunday for 2009 Duel in the Pool

Olympian Michael Phelps will be back in the NBC Sports spotlight this Sunday, as the networks airs taped coverage of the 2009 "Duel in the Pool" from 2-4 PM ET. The event took place from December 18-19 in Manchester, England. The only weird thing about the NBC Sports press release is that they acknowledge up fron that the coverage is taped, yet the speak of the event in present and future tense.


Here is the press release from NBC Sports.

MICHAEL PHELPS HEADLINES AS NBC SPORTS PRESENTS DUEL IN THE POOL THIS SUNDAY

New York - December 23, 2009- NBC Sports presents taped coverage of the 2009 Duel in the Pool this Sunday 2-4 p.m. ET from Manchester, England.  Team USA, Michael Phelps, the most decorated U.S. Olympian of all time with 14 gold medals, will face a team comprised of the top swimmers from Great Britain, Germany and Italy. Joining Phelps on Team USA are three-time Olympic medalist Aaron Peirsol, three-time Olympic medalist Rebecca Soni and three time Olympic medalist Katie Hoff.

The U.S. team will be comprised of the fastest 18 men and 18 women selected from four meets in 2009 - the ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships, Word University Games, U.S. Open and FINA World Championships. The European Select Team will be comprised of 18 men and 18 women from Great Britain, Germany and Italy, with each country sending a team of six men and six women.  The meet format will be short course meters.  World-record swims will earn up to $15,000 bonus and $1,000 will be awarded to swimmers for each win at the meet.

Dan Hicks, Rowdy Gaines, and Alex Flanagan will call the action.