Olympics May Be Over, But Phelps and Bolt Continue to Attract the Spotlight

By Dow Jones Insight Staff

Beijing’s Olympic Closing Ceremony is over, the Olympic torch has been extinguished and the countdown to the 2012 Olympic Games in London has begun. But some of the biggest names from the Beijing Games continue to generate media coverage. After eight gold medals and seven world records in eight events, it’s no surprise that U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps continued as the most-mentioned athlete among those being tracked by Dow Jones Insight in social media sources (blogs and boards). Of 7,907 total mentions in social media sources between August 26 and September 8, Phelps had 4,620, or 58% of the top 10 athletes tracked. Much of this coverage concerned Phelps’ appearances after the Games – including his stint as a presenter at the MTV Video Music Awards – and confirms his arrival as a full-fledged celebrity.

In a distant second to Phelps in social media sources was triple gold medalist Usain Bolt of Jamaica, who had 1,183 mentions, for 15%. U.S. gymnast Shawn Johnson, who won a silver medal in the women’s all-around competition, followed Bolt with 501 mentions, for 6%. Her teammate Nastia Liukin, who won the all-around gold medal, and beach volleyball gold medalist Misty May-Treanor each had 5% of mentions. U.S. swimmer Dara Torres, who made history when she made the team at the age of 41, had 231 mentions, for 3%. Chinese basketball star Yao Ming, U.S. gymnast Paul Hamm and British cyclist Chris Hoy each had 2% of mentions. Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang, whose withdrawal due to injury led to a national outpouring of disappointment, rounded out the top 10 with 109 mentions, for 1%.

Phelps and Bolt swapped positions in traditional media sources (print and online). Of 11,277 total mentions in traditional media sources, Bolt had 3,863, for 34%. Phelps was a close second with 3,496 mentions, for 31%. Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell was third, with 829 mentions, for 7%. Hoy had 690 mentions, for 6%. Liukin, May and British swimmer Rebecca Adlington, who won two gold medals, each had 4% of mentions. Torres, Johnson and American sprinter Tyson Gay, who failed to qualify for the finals of the men’s 100 meters, rounded out the top 10 with 3% of mentions each.

Methodology: Analysis includes the English-language sources taken from a database of 6,000 newspapers, wires, magazines, radio and TV transcripts; about 13,000 current-awareness news sites; 60,000 message boards and about two million blogs.

Phelps Lives Up to Hype, Topping Overall Coverage of Olympic Athletes

By Dow Jones Insight Staff

It’s not often that an athlete lives up to the hype preceding his performance, and few Olympic athletes have been accompanied by as much hype as U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps. But not only did Phelps live up to the expectations of eight gold medals in the Beijing Games, he exceeded them. He won his eight medals, and did so in almost every way possible: individually; as part of relay teams; by unbelievably wide margins; and by, literally, the length of a fingernail. So it’s no surprise that Phelps was the most-mentioned athlete among those being tracked by Dow Jones Insight in both traditional (print and online) and social (blogs and boards) media sources.

Of the 55,051 total mentions in traditional media sources between August 11 and August 25, Phelps had 19,626, or 36% of the selected top athletes tracked. His percentage of social media mentions was even larger. Of the 46,285 total mentions of top athletes during the same time period, Phelps had 28,787, or 62%. In second behind Phelps in both traditional and social media sources was Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, who won three gold medals. Bolt had 13,349 mentions, or 24%, in traditional media and 5,441 mentions, for a more modest 12%, in social media.

French swimmer Alain Bernard was third in traditional media sources, with 3,552 mentions, or 7%. Bernard was a participant in one of the most exciting and memorable finishes in the swimming competition when he was overtaken by the U.S.’s Jason Lezak on the anchor leg of the men’s 4 x 100 freestyle relay. Bernard was followed by U.S. gymnast Nastia Liukin, who won the women’s all-around gold medal, with 3,202 mentions, for 6%. British cyclist Chris Hoy, who won three gold medals in track cycling, had 2,664 mentions, or 5%. Liukin’s teammate Shawn Johnson had 2,658 mentions, or 5%. British swimmer Rebecca Adlington, who won two gold medals, had 2,572 mentions, or 5%.

U.S. sprinter Tyson Gay, who was expected to challenge for the gold in the men’s 100 meters, had 2,508 mentions, or 5%. Gay was still bothered by an injury he suffered in the U.S. Olympic Trials, and failed to make the final of the race. Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang, who also had a disappointing Olympics when he was forced to withdraw from his event due to injury, had 2,498 mentions, or 5%.

U.S. beach volleyball player Misty May-Treanor, who along with her partner Kerri Walsh, won a second consecutive gold medal, rounded out the top 10 athletes with 2,422 mentions, or 4%.

In social media sources, Johnson was third behind Phelps and Bolt, with 3,108 mentions, or 7%. Liukin followed with 2,464 mentions, or 5%. May-Treanor and U.S. swimmer Dara Torres, who won two silver medals at the age of 41, each had 3% of the total mentions. Basketball player Yao Ming, who is a superstar in his native China as well as in the U.S., had 957 mentions, or 2%. Liu Xiang, Bernard and Gay rounded out the top 10 with 2% of mentions each.

Methodology: Analysis includes the English-language sources taken from a database of 6,000 newspapers, wires, magazines, radio and TV transcripts; about 13,000 current-awareness news sites; 60,000 message boards and about two million blogs.

Phelps Dominates Coverage in Traditional and Social Media Sources

By Dow Jones Insight Staff

Following the spectacular Opening Ceremonies, the Beijing Olympic Games are officially under way and it’s time for the athletes to take center stage. And leading the way, as he has in much of the pre-Olympic coverage, is U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps. With two gold medals – and one world record – down, and six more to go, Phelps was the most-mentioned athlete among those being tracked by Dow Jones Insight in both traditional (print and online) and social (blogs and boards) media sources. Of 11,131 total mentions in traditional media sources between July 28 and August 10, Phelps had 2,904, or 26% of those athletes tracked. His percentage of social media mentions was even larger. Of the 2,149 total mentions of athletes during the same time period, Phelps had 796, or 37%. In second, behind Phelps in both traditional and social media sources, was Chinese superstar Yao Ming. Yao had 1,764 mentions, or 16%, in traditional media and 372 mentions, or 17%, in social media.

Australian swimmer Grant Hackett was third in traditional media mentions, with 1,182, or 11% of those tracked. U.S. gymnast Paul Hamm and U.S. swimmer Dara Torres followed Hackett, each with 8% of mentions in traditional media. American Tyson Gay and Jamaican Asafa Powell, who are expected to battle each other and world-record holder Usain Bolt for the gold in the men’s 100 meters, followed with 806 and 741 mentions, respectively. Rounding out the top 10 athletes were Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang, with 677 mentions, or 6%, Australian swimmer Libby Lenton, with 631 mentions, or 6%, and British marathoner Paula Radcliffe, with 581 mentions, or 5%.

In social media sources, Hamm was third behind Phelps and Yao, with 239 mentions, or 11%. Torres was fourth, with 215 mentions for 10%. Gay, Liu Xiang and U.S. women’s gymnast Shawn Johnson each had 5% of the total mentions. Rounding out the top 10 were Radcliffe, Powell and U.S. women’s gymnast Nastia Liukin, each with 3% of the total mentions.

Methodology: Analysis includes the English-language sources taken from a database of 6,000 newspapers, wires, magazines, radio and TV transcripts; about 13,000 current-awareness news sites; 60,000 message boards and about two million blogs.

Swimmers Phelps and Torres Lead Coverage of Olympic Athletes

By Dow Jones Insight Staff

The Beijing Olympic Games begin in a little more than three weeks, and the media spotlight is shining more brightly on the athletes with the potential to become stars of the Games. Swimmer Michael Phelps continued to lead the way among the 10 U.S. athletes being tracked by Dow Jones Insight in the period July 1 to July 14.

On the strength of his performance at the recent U.S. Olympic trials, where he qualified for eight events and set two world records for good measure, Phelps had 2,799 mentions, or 33% of the 8,380 total mentions of the U.S. athletes tracked, in traditional (print and online) and social (blogs and boards) media sources analyzed. Fellow swimmer Dara Torres, who qualified for two events in Beijing, was second with 1,916 mentions, or 23%. Torres, 41, made headlines by being the oldest American swimmer ever to qualify for the Olympics. She won nine medals over four Olympics and came out of retirement two years ago after the birth of her daughter to train for Beijing.

Sprinter Tyson Gay was third in overall coverage, with 1,659 mentions, or 20%. Gay easily made the U.S. team for the 100 meters race but failed to qualify for the 200 meters when he fell in a qualifying heat at the trials. Fellow track stars Jeremy Wariner, Allyson Felix and Sanya Richards followed Gay. Wariner had 601 mentions, or 7%, Felix had 593 mentions, or 7%, and Richards had 426 mentions, or 5%. Gymnast Paul Hamm, whose trip to Beijing hinges on his performance at the upcoming U.S. team training camp, had 201 mentions, or 2%. Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin, whose places on the women’s gymnastics team are secure, had 131 mentions, or 2%, and 54 mentions, or 1%, respectively.

Among the tracked athletes from outside the U.S. hoping to use success in Beijing as a springboard to increased exposure, it was ironically Australian Jana Rawlinson who led coverage during the past fortnight, with 455 of the 1,907 total mentions, or 24%, for her failure to make the Australian team in the 400-meter hurdles. Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell, who is considered one of the favorites in the men’s 100 meters, was a close second with 406 mentions, or 21%. Australian swimmer Grant Hackett had 304 mentions, or 16%. Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang, one of the superstars for the hometown fans, had 214 mentions, or 11%. Libby Lenton, an Australian swimmer, had 178 mentions, or 9%. British marathoner Paula Radcliffe had 141 mentions, or 7%. Leisel Jones, who is expected to be one of the strongest competitors on a very strong Australian women’s swimming squad, had 118 mentions, or 6%. British yachtsman Ben Ainslie had 39 mentions, or 2%. Another Aussie swimmer, Cate Campbell, had 35 mentions, or 2%. British middle-distance runner Jo Pavey had 17 mentions, or 1%.

Methodology: Analysis includes the English-language sources taken from a database of 6,000 newspapers, wires, magazines, radio and TV transcripts; about 13,000 current-awareness news sites; 60,000 message boards and about two million blogs.

Phelps Begins Quest to Make U.S. Team; Leads Press Coverage of Athletes

By Dow Jones Insight Staff

The Beijing Olympic Games open in five weeks, and coverage of Olympic trials events has focused the media spotlight on the most promising candidates for a number of U.S. teams. It was no surprise, then, to see that swimmer Michael Phelps, one of the biggest names among U.S, athletes, led all athletes in coverage in both traditional and social media. He received 1,612 mentions, or 21%, of the total 7,851 mentions in traditional media (print and online) of the athletes being tracked by Dow Jones Insight. Among the total 965 mentions in the social media (blogs and boards), 200, or 21%, were about Phelps.

Following the recently completed gymnastics trials, Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin were the only competitors guaranteed berths on the U.S. women’s gymnastics team. Accordingly, during the period of May 30 to June 30, Johnson received 1,110 mentions, or 14%, and Liukin received 994, or 13%, mentions in traditional media. Paul Hamm, who was named to the U.S. men’s gymnastics team despite not competing because of a broken hand, had 1,028 mentions, or 13%, in the press. In the social media sources, Johnson received 161, or 17%, Hamm received 111, or 12%, and Liukin received 73, or 8%.

The Olympic trials for track and field also just got under way. Competition for media and commercial exposure is expected to be heated between women’s sprinters Allyson Felix and Sanya Richards, although the two will not compete head-to-head in China. Felix, who plans to double in the 100- and 200-meter races, has the edge in coverage going into the trials, with 762 mentions, or 10%, in traditional media and 98 mentions, or 10%, in social media. Richards, who plans to run the 400 meters, received 397 mentions, or 5%, in traditional media and 34 mentions, or 4%, in social media. Jeremy Wariner, the defending gold medalist in the men’s 400 meters, received 530 mentions in the traditional media and 83 in the social media.

Among the non-U.S. athletes being tracked, Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang received 943 mentions, or 12%, in the traditional media and 140, or 15%, in the social media. Paula Radcliffe, a British marathoner, received 279 mentions in traditional media and 50 in social media. Rounding out the top 10 athletes in the analysis of traditional media, Australian women’s swimmer Leisel Jones received 196 mentions. Australian men’s swimmer Grant Hackett rounds out the top 10 in social media, with 15 mentions.

Methodology: Analysis includes 6,000 newspapers, wires, magazines, radio and TV transcripts; about 13,000 current-awareness news sites; 60,000 message boards and about two million blogs.

Phelps, Hamm Emerging as Most Talked-About Athletes Heading Into Beijing

By Dow Jones Insight Staff

The opening of the Beijing Olympic Games is just over six weeks away, and, in many sports, the selection of the competitors has yet to begin. But coverage of some athletes is already well under way. Michael Phelps, who won six gold medals at the Athens Games in 2004, is one of the names garnering a significant amount of coverage, according to analysis conducted on Dow Jones Insight. Phelps, who is shaping up as one of the “faces of the Games” in the U.S., was a popular topic in the social media (blogs and boards). During the period spanning May 17 to June 17, Phelps had 104 mentions, or 25% of total mentions of the top athletes being tracked . Phelps wasn’t as popular a target in the traditional media (print and online) on a percentage share basis, accounting for 19% of all mentions of the top 10 athletes, or 844 mentions.

Gymnast Paul Hamm garnered the most coverage in the traditional media, with 1,012 mentions, or 23%. Coverage of Hamm spiked during the period of May 19-25, after he broke his hand at the U.S. National Championship. Hamm, the all-around gold medalist in Athens, announced he will be unable to compete in the Olympic trials but has petitioned to be placed directly on the team. In contrast, Hamm received very little coverage in social media, with only 28 mentions, or 7%.

Based on their success in the Athens Games, Phelps and Hamm each head into the Beijing Games with significant sponsorship and endorsement deals already in place.

Despite the fact that the Olympic trials for track and field have yet to take place, sprinter Jeremy Wariner has received a significant amount of coverage in the social media; his 88 mentions were second to Phelps. He has also received some coverage in the traditional media, with 535 mentions, or 12%.

Among non-U.S. athletes being tracked, British marathoner Paula Radcliffe received the most coverage in the press and on blogs, with 727 and 75 mentions, respectively. Other non-U.S. athletes being tracked, including Chinese diver Guo Jingjing and Australian swimmers Leisel Jones and Cate Campbell, have received scant coverage in English-language sources.

[1] Dow Jones Insight is currently tracking media mentions of 12 athletes from various countries and sports selected because of their notoriety and sponsorship potential likely tied to their success in Beijing.

Methodology: Analysis includes 6,000 newspapers, wires, magazines, radio and TV transcripts; about 13,000 current-awareness news sites; 60,000 message boards and about two million blogs.