Phelps has 12,000 calories-a-day diet

BEIJING, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. Olympic hero Michael Phelps says part of the secret to his ongoing swimming success is the 12,000 calories of food he consumes each day.

The 23-year-old, who is swimming 17 times during the Beijing Olympic Games, says just part of his daily breakfast routine includes three fried-egg sandwiches and a bowl of grits, the New York Post said Wednesday.

Added to that daily breakfast total is a five-egg omelet, two cups of coffee, three chocolate-chip pancakes and three slices of French toast.

Pasta and ham-and-cheese sandwiches make up the Olympic star's daily lunch, which is bolstered by several energy drinks totaling nearly 1,000 additional calories.

The Post said the swimming sensation ends his day with a dinner constituted of an entire pizza and an entire pound of pasta. The average daily calorie intake for a man Phelps' age is nearly 2,000 calories, the newspaper said.