Olympians Liukin, Clay picked for Wheaties box fame

Wheaties, Associated Press - Wheaties

By Paul Walsh, Star Tribune

Last update: August 29, 2008 - 1:13 PM

Print this story

More from Sports

Wheaties has its next sports heroes for its boxes: Olympic champions Nastia Liukin and Bryan Clay of the United States.

Liukin won the all-around gymnastics gold, while Clay was the gold medalist in the decathlon at the recently concluded Beijing Olympics.

The soon-to-be-released packages will be available nationally beginning in September.

And what about swimmer Michael Phelps, the American swimmer who won a record eight gold medals? He's in the Kellogg's cereal box camp.

Liukin follows American Olympic gymnasts Mary Lou Retton and Carly Patterson onto the Wheaties box. Retton and Patterson also won gold in the all-around.

Liukin captured five medals in Beijing, including individual gold in the all-around, silver in the uneven bars and balance beam, and bronze in the floor exercise. She also helped lead the Americans to silver in the team competition.

"Every young athlete aspires to one day see their face on the cover of the Wheaties box," Liukin said in General Mills' announcement Thursday. "It's been a huge inspiration to see great gymnastics champions on the box, like Mary Lou and Carly, plus the 'Magnificent Seven' from 1996. It's a privilege and an honor for me to be on the box, and I'm very excited to be part of the Wheaties tradition."

Clay became the first American since Dan O'Brien in 1996 to win gold in the decathlon, earning the distinction of "World's Greatest Athlete."

A native of Honolulu and current Los Angeles resident, Clay joins fellow decathlon gold medalists O'Brien, Jim Thorpe and Bruce Jenner as Wheaties box figures.

"Having your picture on the Wheaties box is ... is a mark of distinction that says you've reached the pinnacle of your career," Clay said. "This is a very special honor for me."

--PAUL WALSH

Recent Sports stories

Correction: Super Bowl advertisers story - August 29, 2008

Correction: Super Bowl advertisers story - In one version of a story Feb. 7 about Super Bowl commercials, The Associated Press reported erroneously that a commercial from Focus on the Family included Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow talking with his mother about how she was advised to end her pregnancy with him. They did not specifically discuss that aspect of their story in the commercial. More