Gold Medalist Jason Lezak May Quit Swimming If He Can't Find a Sponsor

Michael Phelps was America's Olympic hero last summer, but he couldn't have won his eight gold medals without the help of his relay partner Jason Lezak, who caught France's world record holder Alain Bernard from behind to win the 4-by-100 freestyle relay.

But while Phelps has become an international superstar, made millions of dollars and, more recently, become the subject of some incriminating photos, Lezak has been largely forgotten.

In fact, Lezak currently doesn't have a single sponsor, and he may have to quit swimming all together if he doesn't find one. Currently, Lezak's only source of income is the $1,750 a month stipend he gets for being part of the American swimming team. At age 33, he won't be swimming much longer, and he needs to start thinking about how he's going to make a living.

A Newsweek profile calls Lezak "America's Unemployed Olympic Hero."

"It stresses me out," Lezak told Newsweek. "But I have to keep my hopes up. ... I'm committed to swim through the summer. Then, it's like, 'Is this the right thing for me?' I'm married and I want a family."

And so Lezak is hoping some company will offer him a sponsorship deal. Nike was sponsoring him during the Olympics but has since gotten out of the swimming business. So far no other company has stepped up to fill that void.

One company that could offer to help out is NBC, which eclipsed $1 billion in advertising revenue on the 2008 Games. NBC spends billions for the rights to televise the Olympics, but it doesn't pay Lezak or other Olympians a dime. Maybe it should.

As it stands, Lezak isn't sure where his future lies. But if he doesn't find a sponsor soon, this may be his final year as a competitive swimmer.

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