Amanda Beard: Phelps Is ‘Like My Little Brother’

Amanda Beard has brotherly love for Michael Phelps.

Following her sarcastic denial of a rumored affair with the Olympic champ, the swimmer told Access Hollywood’s Shaun Robinson that teammate Michael Phelps was “like my little brother.”

In a radio interview with 93.7 KRQ Tucson on Wednesday, she denied kissing him, saying “Eww, no. Come on, I have really good taste.”

“The guy’s a sweetheart and he’s quite a heartthrob and all the ladies love him.” Amanda told Shaun, saying that he was like a sibling to her. “We were on the 2000 Sydney games together when he was 15 years old, so the thought of kissing my little brother is just kind of weird to me.”

Amanda, who has a boyfriend, doesn’t feel that any damage was done.

“Michael knows when I’m joking around,” she said. “I mean, if anyone knows me, they know how much of a jokester I can be.”

But even though she’s taken, Amanda was sure that Michael wouldn’t have any problem finding someone else.

“He’s an attractive guy,” she said. “So I’m sure he would have a line of women waiting to kiss him.”