Michael Phelps, Six Top Swimmers to Compete

Longhorn Network will exclusively televise the Longhorn Aquatics Elite Invite sponsored by Nike, June 1-3, from the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center on the University of Texas campus. An invitation-only swim meet, the event will feature some of the world’s best swimmers including 16-time Olympic medalist Michael Phelps and lifetime Longhorn and four-time Olympic medalist Brendan Hansen.

“We are very grateful to Eddie Reese and everyone at the University of Texas for hosting this final tune-up meet before Trials. The Texas Swim Center provides one of the best competitive atmospheres in the world and our swimmers love to go fast in that pool.  Michael broke his first world record here in 2001 so for him to be able to close out his regular season swimming career in Austin is a very special opportunity,” said Bob Bowman, swimming coach for Phelps.

Reese, head coach of Texas Longhorns men’s swimming and diving, said, “The elite meet June 1-3 will be one of the fastest of the summer. It will be a great opportunity for swimmers to find out where they are in their training. If they want to go fast, this is the place to do it.”

The 24/7 University of Texas channel will air 9.5 hours of coverage during the event. Aaron Peirsol, former teammate of Hansen and Phelps and seven-time Olympic medalist, will serve as on-air analyst. Four-time Olympic gold medalist John Naber will handle play-by-play duties. LHN will televise the finals Friday, Saturday and Sunday night.

This warm-up for the 2012 Olympic Trials will also feature swimming stars Missy Franklin, Garrett Weber-Gale, Amanda Weir, Kathleen Hersey and Allison Schmitt.

Participating teams in the event include men’s and women’s teams from the University of Texas, Texas A&M, University of Georgia, University of Denver and the University of Missouri along with the Athens Bulldogs Swim Club, The Woodlands Swim Team, North Baltimore Aquatic Club, Longhorn Aquatics, First Colony Swim Team, SwimAtlanta, Colorado Stars, Denver Hilltoppers, Mecklenburg Aquatic Club, Club Wolverine, Nitro, and North Jeffco Swim Team.

The Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center has an indoor, eight- lane, 50-meter competition pool. The pool is considered one of the fastest pools in the world due to its depth, gutter system, high filtration rate and lane width.

Tickets to the Longhorn Aquatics Elite Invite are available online through the Longhorn Aquatics Store: https://www.utexas.edu/longhornaquatics/store/

Where to Watch

Longhorn Network is available on Verizon FiOS TV, Grande Communications, Consolidated Communications, En-Touch Systems, E-Tex Communications, Bay City Cablevision, Mid-Coast Cablevision and Texas Mid-Gulf Cablevision. Longhorn Network is now available online to Verizon FiOS subscribers at LonghornNetwork.com. It is available on tablets and on smartphones to fans with an affiliated video subscription.

About Longhorn Network

ESPN has a 20-year agreement to own and operate a year-round, 24-hour network dedicated to the University of Texas in partnership with UT and IMG College.  Longhorn Network offers a variety of content, highlighted by more than 200 exclusive events annually from 20 sports, original series and studio shows, historical programming and academic and cultural happenings. Additionally, the LonghornNetwork.com broadband companion to the TV network offers extensive content, particularly live games not carried on the linear TV network due to scheduling conflicts.

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ESPN Contact: Keri Potts, (860) 766-4483 or keri.a.potts@espn.com

University of Texas Media Contact: Ann Nellis at (512) 471-4733 or ann.nellis@austin.utexas.edu

IMG Media Contact: Jim Gallagher at (212) 774-4419 or jim.gallagher@imgworld.com