Beard was asked about the rumors swirling around Beijing that the gold medal-winning duo are an item and her reply could not have been more fierce.

“I have never, ever hooked up with Michael Phelps,” says Beard. “Eww, that’s nasty…come on, I have really good taste. He’s really not my type.”

Beard must have quickly realized that millions of American woman may differ on their opinion of Phelps attractiveness and issued an apology later in the day to People magazine.

“Everybody who knows me knows I can be a jokester, but I guess I took it too far. I never meant to say anything rude about Michael. I am 100-percent sorry for what I said. I take full responsibility for it.”

The swimmer has caused waves in Beijing in and out of the pool. Her PETA ad featuring her naked sparked a controversy in the Chinese city when it debuted.

Now the news arises of her “distaste” of Michael Phelps. The man on the cover of Sports Illustrated sporting eight gold medals and the darling of America is hardly 'nasty.'

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