Michael Phelps and Agent Peter Carlisle – 10 Years, 19 Medals

19 Olympic medals.  Michael Phelps has broken the record for most medals one by any single athlete in the modern era Olympics Games.  In the pool, Phelps is the man.  Outside the pool, his man is Peter Carlisle, managing director of Olympics and Action Sports at Octagon.

It was June 2002 when Phelps decided that Carlisle and Octagon were the right fit for him.  At 16-years-old, Phelps announced that his marketing, endorsement, and business affairs would be put in their hands.  In June 2002, Phelps was also coached by Bob Bowman, who was recognized as USA’s Coach of the Year.  Not much has changed.  Ten years later, Phelps has the same agent and the same swim coach, but a lot more Olympic medals (19 to be exact).

Carlisle likely counts his blessings that he was fortunate enough to sign Phelps at the beginning of his career.  Likewise, Octagon has to look back with joy at its acquisition of Carlisle’s small agency in 2001.  Prior to starting his own agency, Carlisle was a corporate lawyer with a law firm in Portland, Maine.  My guess is that he is thrilled with his decision to switch his focus to the representation of Olympic athletes, including the great Michael Phelps.